164 attacks on US troops in the Middle East since the start of the Gaza war
Iran expands influence by supporting militias… Occupies 1/3 of Iraq
U.S. troops are stationed in Jordan, Syria, and Iraq. The biggest goal is to block the resurgence of Islamic State (IS) forces.
The IS faction, which grew while resisting the U.S. military that invaded Iraq in 2003, expanded to the point where it took control of significant areas of Iraq and Syria around 2015, and was completely wiped out around 2019 due to a joint attack by the U.S.-led Iraqi, Syrian, and Kurdish forces. expelled from the area. However, there is a possibility of a resurgence at any time depending on the local unstable situation.
There are about 2,500 troops stationed in Iraq and about 900 in Syria. They usually stay at the base and perform remote operations. US troops stationed in Iraq support the Iraqi army, and US troops stationed in Syria support the Kurdish forces. In addition, it also plays a role in enforcing U.S. sanctions against the Lebanese Hezbollah militia.
Al-Asad Air Base in the western desert region of Iran, where US troops are stationed, is mainly used by the Iraqi military. 350 Army and Air Force personnel stationed at Tower 22, a forward base in northeastern Jordan, are dispatched in shifts to Al-Tanf Fort in Syria.
On the 28th, three U.S. soldiers were killed and 34 injured in an attack on accommodation at the Tower 22 base.
There have been 164 attacks on U.S. troops stationed in Syria, Iraq, and Jordan since the Gaza war broke out last October.
Major cases of attacks on U.S. troops by militia forces are as follows:
On October 18 last year, one soldier suffered minor injuries in a drone attack on the Al-Tanf fortress in Syria.
Last December, an American soldier was seriously injured in an attack on Iraq’s Ibril Air Base, and this month, Iraq’s Ain al-Asad Air Base was also attacked by a ballistic missile, injuring four American soldiers.
The Islamic Resistance Group in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attack on Jordan’s Tower 22 forward base, but Iran denied involvement. The Islamic Resistance is a loosely combined group of Khayib Hezbollah and Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, and seeks to fight against Israel and U.S. imperialism.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have also been attacking US military vessels in the Red Sea since November of last year.
Iran has been seeking to expand its influence in the Middle East by providing weapons and other supplies to militia forces throughout the Middle East. Since U.S. troops withdrew from Iraq in 2011, militia forces have gained an upper hand over Iraqi government forces. Currently, militia forces control most of the IS area, which once covered one-third of Iraq.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.