US service member injured after rocket attacks on coalition bases in Syria

US service member injured after rocket attacks on coalition bases in Syria
August 25, 2022, 6:47 am

US soldiers wearing protective face masks are seen in front of C-130 transport plane during a military drill amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at Yokota US Air Force Base in Fussa, on the outskirts of Tokyo, Japan May 21, 2020. (File photo: Reuters)

Several rocket attacks have been fired Wednesday (August 24) on the two gas fields in southern Syria where forces of the United States deployed.

Anadolu Agency reported that according to the local sources the attacks came from areas where foreign terrorist groups are present.

One service member at one of the sites was treated for a minor injury, Central Command said. At least two more were being evaluated for minor injuries.

Following the rocket attack, US attack helicopters returned fire and destroyed three vehicles as well as the equipment used to launch the rockets, according to Central Command.

Initial assessments indicate that two or three people involved in carrying out the attacks were killed.

Colin Kahl, the under secretary of defense for policy, said at a briefing to reporters on Wednesday: We're not going to tolerate attacks by Iran-backed forces on our forces anywhere in the world, to include in Syria, and we won't hesitate to protect ourselves and take additional measures as appropriate." (File photo: Deir Ezzor Media Centar)

"We have a total spectrum of capability to mitigate threats across the region, and we have every confidence in our ability to protect our troops and Coalition partners from attacks," said Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla, commander of US Central Command.

Earlier Wednesday, a senior Pentagon official said the US would work to defend its service members and capabilities in the region.

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"We're not going to hesitate to defend ourselves," said Colin Kahl, the under secretary of defense for policy, at a briefing to reporters on Wednesday.

"We're not going to tolerate attacks by Iran-backed forces on our forces anywhere in the world, to include in Syria, and we won't hesitate to protect ourselves and take additional measures as appropriate."

The US maintains approximately 900 troops in Syria, largely split between the At-Tanf base and the country's eastern oil fields.

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