- Drone attack kills seven combatants
- US retaliates against Iran-aligned groups
- Iran vows to defend territory
During the night, a drone assault on an American base in eastern Syria resulted in the fatalities of multiple Kurdish-led forces combatants.
On Monday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), based in the United Kingdom, reported that a minimum of eighteen combatants were injured and seven were slain.
The assault follows weekend US airstrikes against targets in Iraq and Syria. Armed groups aligned with Iran have reported targeting US bases in Syria, western Iraq, and northern Iraq, amidst the ongoing low-level conflict with Washington.
The observatory described Monday’s incident as “the initial reaction of Iranian militias to American bases following airstrikes by the United States against militia positions across multiple regions within their sphere of influence.”
Since October 19, “108 attacks” have targeted US-led Combined Joint Task Force sites in Syria, according to SOHR. The coalition commanded by the United States was formed in 2014 to combat ISIL.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) provided an alternative account of the loss of life, stating, “A terrorist attack utilizing a one-way drone that targeted a training academy in the Al Omar oilfield resulted in the martyrdom of six of our fighters.”
The prolonged attacks demonstrate the growing risk that Israel’s bombardment of Gaza could escalate Middle East tensions.
US-Iran Tensions Prompt Strikes
The peril escalated significantly towards the end of last month. A drone hit a US outpost in Jordan, killing three soldiers and injuring nearly forty. Washington attributed the assault to forces backed by Iran and issued a threat of retaliation, which materialized over the weekend.
Iran-aligned organizations in Iraq and Syria were targeted by the United States military on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, United States and British forces attacked thirty-six Houthi targets in Yemen.
Central Command (CENTCOM) of the United States military stated that its forces “engaged in a self-defense strike against a Houthi… land attack cruise missile” and subsequently intercepted “four anti-ship cruise missiles, all of which were loaded with the capability to target vessels in the Red Sea.”
The confirmation that Washington does not intend to escalate the regional threat has been sought. The Pentagon undoubtedly opposes engaging in armed conflict with Iran.
Officials assert, nonetheless, that additional military operations are in the works.
National Security Advisor of the White House, Jake Sullivan, stated on Sunday on national television that the strikes that occurred on Friday were “only the beginning, not the end, of our response; there will be additional steps – some of which may go unnoticed.”
He further stated, “It would not be an open-ended military campaign.” However, in response to a question regarding whether Washington would explicitly rule out the possibility of a direct strike against Iran, Sullivan stated, “It would be unwise for me to discuss what we are confirming and rejecting.”
Iran Warns of Retaliation to US
Iran “will not hesitate” to retaliate any US direct action against its country, it said Monday.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani stated that Iran has demonstrated its responsiveness. It has always responded decisively to any threat to its security, territorial integrity, and sovereignty.
He further stated that Tehran “will not be hesitant to employ its capabilities” in response to any assaults. But emphasized that the Iranian government “has no intention of exacerbating regional tensions and crises.”
Despite its ties to anti-US factions, Iran has not participated in the Gaza conflict or its aftermath.
On Sunday, the Houthis, an Iranian-backed group that has been attacking ships in the Red Sea for months in alleged solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, declared that the United States and United Kingdom strikes would not be successful.
“These assaults will not deter us from maintaining our… position in support of the resolute Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip,” Yahya Saree, a spokesman for the Houthi military, wrote on social media. He added that the assaults “will not fly without retaliation and sanction.”
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