A U.S. military base in eastern Syria was attacked once again on Friday, following a series of recent retaliatory airstrikes by the United States against Iran-backed militia groups in the region. The attack occurred at an oil field base in the province of Deir al-Zour. The Al-Quds Brigades, a militant group with ties to Iran, claimed responsibility for the attack.
According to reports, the attack began with a missile strike on the perimeter of the base, followed by small arms fire and a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) that detonated near the entrance to the base. Despite the intensity of the attack, there were no reported casualties among U.S. or coalition forces stationed at the base. However, local media outlets reported that at least four Syrian soldiers were killed in the attack.
The attack on the base is the latest in a series of incidents that have taken place between U.S. and Iranian-backed forces in the region. The United States has conducted several airstrikes on Iran-backed militia groups in Syria and Iraq in recent months, following a rocket attack on a U.S. base in Iraq in February that killed a U.S. contractor.
Tensions between the United States and Iran have been high for several years, particularly since former President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and imposed a series of economic sanctions on the country. President Joe Biden has indicated that he is open to re-entering the nuclear deal, but has also indicated that he will take a tougher stance on Iran's ballistic missile program and its support for proxy forces in the region.
In response to the recent U.S. airstrikes, Iran has condemned the attacks and warned that they will have consequences. The Iranian-backed militia groups in Iraq and Syria have also issued threats against U.S. forces in the region, and have pledged to continue their attacks until U.S. troops withdraw from the region.
The attack on the base underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by U.S. and coalition forces in Syria and Iraq, and highlights the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran. While there were no casualties reported in this particular attack, it serves as a stark reminder of the potential for violence and conflict in the region, and the need for continued vigilance and preparedness among U.S. and coalition forces.