American troops in northeastern Syria were attacked by drones, a US official told Reuters on Friday, although initial reports said there were no casualties.
This is the second attack in recent days against US forces in the Middle East, as the region fears a new wave of attacks by Iran and its allies.
Iran-backed Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran’s capital Tehran on July 31. After this attack, Iran has threatened to take revenge from Israel. Israel is fighting the Palestinian group in Gaza. Iran has blamed Israel for this murder. Israel has not taken responsibility for it.
The killing of Fuad Shukr, a senior military commander of the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, in an Israeli attack on Beirut has raised concerns that the conflict in Gaza is spiraling into a wider Middle East war.
Iran has said that America is responsible for the killing of Haniya because of its support to Israel.
Speaking on condition of anonymity about the attack in Syria, a US official said, “Initial reports do not indicate any injuries. However, medical examinations are ongoing. We are currently assessing the damage.”
The attack took place in the Rumalin landing zone, where American troops are present alongside US-led coalition forces.
Five US personnel were injured on Monday when two Katyusha rockets hit the Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq. The Pentagon has blamed Iran-backed militants for the attack.
The US has 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in neighbouring Iraq, on a mission said to be advising and assisting local forces to prevent a resurgence of Islamic State, which seized large parts of both countries in 2014 but was later pushed back.