WASHINGTON: American and allied forces in Syria were targeted on Monday in an attack that did not cause casualties, a US official said, after a group claimed to have launched drones at Washington’s troops.

“An attack against US and coalition forces occurred early this morning in Syria. There were no injuries or damage,” a US defence official said.

The US official did not provide specifics on the attack, but a group calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said earlier in the day that it had launched drones against American forces at Al-Tanf and Al-Malikiyah in Syria.

The United States has some 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq as part of efforts to combat IS, which once held significant territory in both countries but was pushed back by local forces supported by international air strikes. Meanwhile, Iraq on Monday condemned as “unacceptable” attacks against bases on its territory housing US forces.

Since Wednesday, at least five rocket and drone attacks have targeted three Iraqi military bases where American troops are stationed. “The attacks that target Iraqi bases that house advisers from the international coalition in Iraq are unacceptable,” Iraq’s military spokesman Yahya Rasool said in a statement.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2023