Iran-backed militias have been consistently escalating their attacks in the region against the United States and Israel. The ongoing (and escalating) Houthi attacks on the Red Sea not only present a physical danger to those aboard the merchant ships and to the Red Sea Coalition, but an economic challenge one as well. And now, Kurdish fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces were attacked on a Syrian base “housing US troops” by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq — a broad term for pro-Iran Shia insurgent groups in Iraq, that is, Iranian proxies.
Iran has for a considerable period been emboldened by the exorbitant monies from the U.S. that began flowing in via Obama’s nuclear deal. More recently, Joe Biden has been been pumping cash into the regime’s coffers, thus indirectly aiding in Iran’s jihad war against America. See also HERE.
Although Iran is a worrisome force with extensive proxies in the region and globally, as well as having Russia as an ally and possibly China, it is also focused on a multi-front war against Western interests, virtually in its own backyard. Despite a China-brokered rapprochement with Saudi Arabia, the latter’s relationship with Iran is also unstable, as is well reflected in the historic Shia-Sunni divide. Tactically, such divisions, as well as Iran’s multi-front wars, bode well for Israel and its Western allies.
Nonetheless, the war against Hamas is also expanding to now include Kurd fighters, and amid increasing worries and warnings of an impending World War III.
“At least 6 Kurdish fighters are killed in a drone attack on a Syrian base housing US troops,” by Bassem Mroue and Kareem Chehayeb, Associated Press, February 5, 2024:
BEIRUT (AP) — A drone attack on a base housing U.S. troops in eastern Syria killed six allied Kurdish fighters late Sunday, in the first significant attack in Syria or Iraq since the U.S. launched retaliatory strikes over the weekend against Iran-backed militias that have been targeting its forces in the region.
The U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said Monday the attack hit a training ground at al-Omar base in Syria’s eastern province of Deir el-Zour, where the forces’ commando units are trained. No casualties were reported among U.S. troops.
An umbrella group of Iran-backed Iraqi militias, dubbed the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, released a video claiming responsibility for the attack and showing them launching a drone from an unspecified location.
In late January, a drone attack by the same group killed three U.S. troops and wounded dozens more at a desert base in Jordan. The U.S. military launched dozens of retaliatory strikes targeting Iran-backed militant groups in western Iraq and eastern Syria and also struck the Houthis in Yemen.
The SDF initially accused “Syrian regime-backed mercenaries” of carrying out Sunday’s attack but in a second statement blamed “Iran-backed militias” after investigating the attack.
The umbrella group has launched dozens of drone attacks on U.S. military bases and troops in Iraq and Syria, and has called for the withdrawal of American soldiers from both countries.
The attack comes as tensions flare across the Middle East amid the Israel-Hamas war, which was sparked by Hamas’ rampage in southern Israel on Oct. 7.
Meanwhile, Britain-based opposition war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least seven SDF fighters were killed in the attack on Sunday and at least 18 others wounded, some in critical condition…..
Ernie says
Without targeting Iran militarily and directly in a meaningful way these “skirmishes”will continue and get worse . Iran must be destroyed as NAZI- Germany was destroyed .
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Why do we have troops in Syria in Kurdish areas? Just to keep Turkey from attacking?