US military base in Syria attacked, at least 7 people killed

It was the first serious attack on US troops since the US launched retaliatory airstrikes over the weekend against rebel and militia forces in the region, including in Syria and Iraq.

The US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Monday the attack targeted a training ground at al-Omar base in the eastern Syrian province of Deir el-Zour. No US casualties were reported.

An Iraqi militia group, known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, released a video claiming responsibility for the attack and showing them launching a drone from an unknown location.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least seven Kurdish SDF fighters were killed in Sunday’s attack and at least 18 others were wounded, some critically. It did not say whether any US military personnel were among the casualties.

The attack late Sunday came two days after the US military carried out strikes against Iran-linked militant targets in Syria and Iraq. The SDF said it reserved the right to respond to the attack.

In late January, a drone attack by the same group killed three US soldiers and wounded dozens at a desert base in Jordan. The US military has carried out dozens of retaliatory strikes against militant groups in western Iraq and eastern Syria, and continues to attack Houthi forces in Yemen.

Huy Hoang (according to AP)

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