Pentagon blames Iran-backed militias for injuries to US troops in Syria

Latest developments

Iran-backed militias were responsible for an attack that wounded eight U.S. troops in Syria on Aug. 9, the Pentagon said Aug. 13. Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder made the assessment during a press conference without specifying exactly which militia was responsible for the Aug. 9 drone attack on the Rumalyn landing zone, where U.S. and coalition troops are stationed as part of a mission to permanently defeat ISIS. Ryder said eight U.S. troops were taken to an unspecified location for further evaluation “out of an abundance of caution.” All eight soldiers were treated for traumatic brain injury and smoke inhalation. Three of the injured have returned to duty.

During the previous day's press conference, Ryder said the injuries were caused by the impact of a single attack drone on the base, damaging “a number of facilities.” Ryder did not say how or when the United States plans to respond to the attack, but stressed that it will do so “at a time and in a manner of our choosing.” Since October 17, Iranian proxies have attacked US forces over 170 times, provoking only a handful of US retaliatory strikes. The United States maintains a force of about 2,500 troops in Iraq and about 900 in Syria.

Expert analysis

“If this administration does not respond with overwhelming force to attacks on American troops, we can expect more attacks from Tehran and its terror proxies. Sooner or later, the terrorists will get lucky, or the U.S. defenses will fail – and Americans will get killed. That's exactly what happened earlier this year. America's enemies are clearly not concerned about the consequences of an attack on U.S. forces. This is an unacceptable status quo both for America's national security and for the soldiers and their families in danger.” – Bradley Bowman, Senior Director of the FDD Center for Military and Political Power

“The Biden administration must respond to this attack with a costly strike against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps proxies in Syria. Deterrence does not work if the United States does not respond until after about 100 proxy attacks on U.S. forces.” — RADM (retired) Mark MontgomeryFDD Senior Fellow and Senior Director of the FDD Center on Cyber ​​and Technology

“Over the years, a disturbing and predictable pattern of Iranian proxy attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria has emerged. At first, the attacks go unanswered. Then Americans suffer 'minor' injuries. Finally, the United States responds with a measured response that does not deter either these proxies or Tehran, and the attacks continue. The United States cannot afford to take the next step in this pattern before responding with overwhelming force. Because, unfortunately, that next step is often a coffin covered with a flag.” — Cameron McMillanResearch Analyst

Injured US troops in Iraq

The attack on Rumalyn came just days after four U.S. soldiers and one U.S. employee were injured in a rocket attack on the Ain al-Asad air base in western Iraq on August 5. An Iraqi militia called al-Thawryoon claimed responsibility for the August 5 attack. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin did not attribute the attack to any specific group, but blamed Iran-backed militias. These militias, a collection of groups that consider themselves part of the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq and Syria,” have stepped up attacks on U.S. forces in the region since Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel. Tehran and these groups in Iraq are trying to pressure the Iraqi government to reach an agreement that will result in a complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from the region. Some groups have also threatened to attack both Israeli and U.S. forces, possibly in coordination with an Iranian attack on Israel, in response to the July 31 assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

The militias had largely halted their attacks on U.S. troops in early February after the U.S. launched airstrikes in response to a deadly attack on a base in Jordan on January 28 that killed three U.S. soldiers. There were two attacks on U.S. forces in April, and there have been at least seven attacks since July 16. On July 16, an unnamed Iranian proxy launched a drone strike on al-Asad that caused minimal damage but no injuries. Additional attacks on al-Asad and the Euphrates Mission Support Site in Syria followed on July 25, 26 and 27, with no reports of casualties or serious damage. On July 30, U.S. forces carried out a self-defense airstrike on a militia base south of Baghdad that killed four fighters, including a Yemeni drone expert from the Houthis, and wounded four others.

“American forces under attack from Iran and its proxies,” by Cameron McMillan and Brad Bowman

“US military defeats Iran-backed militias in Iraq” – FDD Flash Brief

“Iran-backed terrorists resume attacks on US troops in Iraq,” FDD Flash Brief

“The Consequences of US Weakness in Iraq and Syria”, by Bradley Bowman and Cameron McMillan