US base in Syria targeted by drone strike, no casualties reported

An American military base in eastern Syria was assaulted by a one-way drone, as per a U.S. defense official.

Initial reports suggest there were no injuries in the assault, but the official mentioned that medical assessments and a damage evaluation after the assault were still ongoing.

“On Aug. 9 at around 5 p.m. ET, there was an assault using a one-way assault uncrewed aerial system (OWAUAS) against U.S. and Coalition forces at Rumalyn Landing Zone in Syria,” stated the defense official.

The assault is the most recent sign that Iranian-supported militia groups in Iraq and Syria may have recommenced assaults on bases in both countries following a lengthy pause.

Social media posts have suggested that a fire may have been caused by the assault.

Earlier this week, five Americans were hurt when two rockets struck the sprawling Al-Asad Air Base in western Iraq. The Pentagon has attributed that assault to Iranian-supported militia groups but has not identified precisely which group is accountable.

There are currently approximately 900 American military personnel still operating in Syria where they assist local Kurdish forces in preventing a resurgence of the Islamic State. There are about 2,500 U.S. military personnel in Iraq also involved in a counter-ISIS mission.

Since Oct. 18, there have been nearly 170 assaults occurring on an almost daily basis as Iranian-supported militia groups target U.S bases in Iraq and Syria, allegedly in retaliation for the Israel-Hamas war.

Those assaults largely ceased after Feb. 4 following extensive U.S. airstrikes in Iraq and Syria and a drone strike that eliminated a high-ranking leader of the Kataib Hezbollah militia group that the U.S. deemed responsible for the assaults.

Nevertheless, there have now been a limited number of assaults on U.S. bases since mid-July that had not resulted in any damage or casualties until this week’s injuries in the assault on the base at Al-Asad.