The Pentagon released a statement saying that a U.S. contractor was killed, and five U.S. military personnel and one U.S. Contractor were injured when a drone struck a Coalition base in northeast Syria shortly before 2 p.m. local.
According to the statement, the intelligence community believes that the drone was Iranian-made. The U.S. responded by launching air strikes against Iranian-linked targets within the region.
Lloyd Austin, Defense Secretary, stated that “under President Biden’s direction, I authorized U.S. Central Command forces for precision airstrikes tonight against eastern Syria facilities used by Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, (IRGC)”.
“The airstrikes were launched in response to today’s attack and a series recent attacks on Coalition forces in Syria by groups associated with the IRGC.”
Austin said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the contractor who died and those who were injured in the attack earlier today.”
Two service personnel were wounded and treated at the site. Three others and a wounded contractor from the United States were then evacuated to hospitals in Iraq.
In testimony before Congress on Thursday, Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla of U.S. Central Command stated that since January 2021 , there have been78 attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. These attacks were primarily carried out using drones and rockets. They are believed to be Iranian-backed proxies.
