16 attacks against US forces in Iraq and Syria in one week News

The US Department of Defense (the Pentagon) announced that its forces in Iraq and Syria were subjected to 16 attacks last week by what it described as pro-Iranian groups.

The Pentagon said Thursday that American forces have been attacked at least 12 times in Iraq and suffered four attacks in Syria.

This series of attacks came as Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip escalated, leaving more than 7,000 martyrs, most of them women and children, and forcing nearly 1.4 million residents of the Strip to flee.

Armed factions close to Iran have threatened to attack American interests against the backdrop of Washington’s support for Israel, while the US has promised a “resolute” response.

The Pentagon explained that the attacks against its forces were carried out with drones and attack missiles.

Who carries out the attacks?

Most of these attacks were claimed by the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq”, and analysts said that it was not a single faction, but rather an umbrella group of factions.

For its part, the Pentagon confirmed that the groups launching these attacks are “supported by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the regime.”

The White House also said Iran “actively facilitates” attacks against U.S. forces in the Middle East.

For his part, Michael Knights of the Washington Institute said that the “Islamic resistance in Iraq” is the result of the decision of Iranian-backed Iraqi groups “to adopt all their attacks during the period of this conflict in Gaza.”

How dangerous is it?

So far the impact of the attacks has been relatively limited, but the risk of escalation is high.

The Pentagon said Wednesday that 21 US service members “were slightly injured following drone strikes” in Iraq and Syria last week, but all have returned to duty.

The ministry said an American civilian contractor suffered a “heart attack” and later died while hiding at the Ain al-Asad base in western Iraq after early warning systems signaled the presence of a threat. imminent, pointing out that the attack ultimately did not occur.

There is a high possibility that the situation will worsen, especially if a drone or missile kills American soldiers.

The Pentagon said: “What we are seeing is the potential for increased escalation against American forces and personnel across the region in the very near term.”

There are currently about 2,500 American troops in Iraq and about 900 in Syria.