Middle East Policy has been one of the world’s most cited publications on the region since its inception in 1982, and our Breaking Analysis series makes high-quality, diverse analysis available to a broader audience.
Policy Brief Program
October 24, 2023
On Tuesday, October 17 and Wednesday, October 18, U.S. forces in multiple locations in Iraq and Syria were targeted by aerial drones. In light of former statements from Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, including the regional umbrella group, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, it is believed that Iranian proxies launched these operations. U.S. troops reportedly suffered minor injuries and no casualties.
Regional sources report on the strikes:
Prior to the recent escalation of the Hamas-Israel conflict, “President Joe Biden’s administration had hailed a period of relative calm with pro-Iranian militias in the region following quiet talks between US and Iranian officials,” per Iraqi News. However, “since Wednesday, at least five rocket and drone attacks have targeted three Iraqi military bases where American troops are stationed as part of the international coalition set up to fight the Islamic State group.”
Al Arabiya cited an anonymous military source’s claim that the attacks in Iraq came “without causing any casualties or damage,” albeit some injuries to U.S. soldiers. Regarding the group responsible for the operation, “a statement issued on Telegram channels used by pro-Iranian armed groups said the attack was carried out by a group calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.”
Beyond Iraq, strikes were also launched against U.S. forces in Syria. According to Anadolu Agency, “on Wednesday, US forces stationed at the at-Tanf garrison in southeastern Syria came under attack from two drones.” They further reported that “one of the drones was shot down, while the other struck the facility causing ‘minor injuries to coalition forces.’”
These attacks coincide with the Israel-Hamas war, in which the U.S. and Iran support opposing parties in the conflict. Specifically, Arab News outlined, “Iran’s Shiite clerical leaders support Hamas as well as the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, Shiite paramilitary groups in Iraq and Yemen’s Houthi rebels.” The United States, inversely “has promised major defense aid to Israel since the October 7 assault by Hamas militants. “
The attacks on U.S. troops are a confirmation that “the region is buzzing with activity” in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. According to Haaretz, “the United States has increased its military presence in the Middle East; it is now larger than it has been since it formed the coalition to fight ISIS in 2014…Iran is activating its militias with redoubled vigor to attack Israeli and American forces, while Hezbollah continues to heat up the Lebanese border.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed the situation in its larger context, as reported by Al-Jazeera. They write that on Sunday, Blinken asserted that “Washington is prepared to retaliate if US troops are targeted in the course of the Israel-Hamas war, as the possibility of the conflict spreading across the Middle East rises… ‘We are taking steps to make sure that we can effectively defend our people and respond decisively if we need to.’”
Al-Ahram quotes National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby: “Iran continues to support Hamas and Hezbollah, and we know that Iran is closely monitoring these events and in some cases, actively facilitating these attacks and spurring on others who may want to exploit the conflict for their own good or for that of Iran.”
Middle East Policy has been one of the world’s most cited publications on the region since its inception in 1982, and our Breaking Analysis series makes high-quality, diverse analysis available to a broader audience.
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Policy Brief Program
October 24, 2023
On Tuesday, October 17 and Wednesday, October 18, U.S. forces in multiple locations in Iraq and Syria were targeted by aerial drones. In light of former statements from Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, including the regional umbrella group, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, it is believed that Iranian proxies launched these operations. U.S. troops reportedly suffered minor injuries and no casualties.
Regional sources report on the strikes:
Prior to the recent escalation of the Hamas-Israel conflict, “President Joe Biden’s administration had hailed a period of relative calm with pro-Iranian militias in the region following quiet talks between US and Iranian officials,” per Iraqi News. However, “since Wednesday, at least five rocket and drone attacks have targeted three Iraqi military bases where American troops are stationed as part of the international coalition set up to fight the Islamic State group.”
Al Arabiya cited an anonymous military source’s claim that the attacks in Iraq came “without causing any casualties or damage,” albeit some injuries to U.S. soldiers. Regarding the group responsible for the operation, “a statement issued on Telegram channels used by pro-Iranian armed groups said the attack was carried out by a group calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.”
Beyond Iraq, strikes were also launched against U.S. forces in Syria. According to Anadolu Agency, “on Wednesday, US forces stationed at the at-Tanf garrison in southeastern Syria came under attack from two drones.” They further reported that “one of the drones was shot down, while the other struck the facility causing ‘minor injuries to coalition forces.’”
These attacks coincide with the Israel-Hamas war, in which the U.S. and Iran support opposing parties in the conflict. Specifically, Arab News outlined, “Iran’s Shiite clerical leaders support Hamas as well as the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, Shiite paramilitary groups in Iraq and Yemen’s Houthi rebels.” The United States, inversely “has promised major defense aid to Israel since the October 7 assault by Hamas militants. “
The attacks on U.S. troops are a confirmation that “the region is buzzing with activity” in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. According to Haaretz, “the United States has increased its military presence in the Middle East; it is now larger than it has been since it formed the coalition to fight ISIS in 2014…Iran is activating its militias with redoubled vigor to attack Israeli and American forces, while Hezbollah continues to heat up the Lebanese border.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed the situation in its larger context, as reported by Al-Jazeera. They write that on Sunday, Blinken asserted that “Washington is prepared to retaliate if US troops are targeted in the course of the Israel-Hamas war, as the possibility of the conflict spreading across the Middle East rises… ‘We are taking steps to make sure that we can effectively defend our people and respond decisively if we need to.’”
Al-Ahram quotes National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby: “Iran continues to support Hamas and Hezbollah, and we know that Iran is closely monitoring these events and in some cases, actively facilitating these attacks and spurring on others who may want to exploit the conflict for their own good or for that of Iran.”