The Pentagon said the US military launched retaliatory airstrikes in eastern Syria on Thursday against Iran-backed groups after a deadly drone attack on a US base in the region killed an American contractor and wounded six others, including five US military service members.
“Earlier today, an American contractor was killed and five American service members and an additional American contractor were injured after a one-way drone strike struck a maintenance facility at a coalition base near Hasakah in northeastern Syria at approximately 1:38 p.m. local time,” the Pentagon said. in a statement.
Officials said two of the wounded were treated at the site, while the other four Americans were medically evacuated to coalition medical facilities in Iraq.
According to the statement, US intelligence estimated that the one-way attack drone that struck the base was of Iranian origin.
FILE – Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon on November 3, 2022 in Washington.
(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
At the direction of the President [Joe] Biden, I have authorized U.S. Central Command to conduct precision air strikes tonight in eastern Syria against facilities used by groups affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard,” Defense Secretary Lloyd J.
He added, “The air strikes came in response to today’s attack, as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.”
The United States has about 900 troops in eastern Syria helping Syrian Kurdish forces prevent the return of the Islamic State.
In recent months, some bases have been the target of drone attacks, which in most cases did not result in casualties or physical damage. Iranian-backed groups in Syria are believed to be responsible for these attacks.
“These precision strikes are intended to protect and defend US personnel. The United States has taken proportionate and deliberate actions designed to reduce escalation risks and minimize casualties,” the Pentagon statement read.
“As President Biden has made clear, we will take all actions necessary to defend our people and we will always respond at a time and place of our choosing,” Austin said. “No group will strike our forces with impunity.”
“Our thoughts are with the family and colleagues of the contractor who was killed and injured in the attack earlier today,” the defense minister added.
During Thursday’s House Armed Services Committee hearing focused on the Middle East and Africa, Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon asked CENTCOM commander Gen. Michael “Eric Korella” about the frequency of Iranian proxy attacks on US forces.
According to Kurella, there have been 78 such attacks since the beginning of 2021.
“It’s my turn,” Corella said. “We see periods where they’ll do more.”
“What Iran does to hide its hand is that it uses Iranian proxies – under drones or missiles – to be able to attack our forces in Iraq or Syria,” he added.
ABC News’ Matt Seller contributed to this report.
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