Worrying escalation | Iranian-backed groups attack US bases in Syria on 69 occasions in eight months

After Washington had acknowledged of the injury of eight US soldiers in an attack by a drone controlled by Iranian-backed group, which targeted Kharab Al-Jir base earlier this month, US forces brought in advanced anti-aircraft laser-operating weapons to the base which is located in Rumaylan countryside.

 

On the other hand, Iranian-backed groups re-escalated their attacks with drones and rockets on US bases in Syria in light of the growing tension which followed the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh and Iranians’ threats to react to his death. This also coincides with violent attacks by Iranian-backed groups on SDF positions on the eastern bank of Euphrates river, which have escalated dramatically since August 7.

 

In this context, SOHR has documented 69 attacks carried out by Iranian-backed groups on US bases in Syria since early 2024; they are distributed as follows:

 

• 21 attacks on Al-Omar oil field base.

 

• 26 attacks on Koniko gas field base.

 

• Four attack on Al-Shaddadi base in Al-Hasakah countryside.

 

• Eight attacks on the Kharab Al-Jair base in Al-Rumailan.

 

• Nine attacks on Al-Tanf garrison.

 

• One attack on Istrahat Wazir base in Al-Hasakah countryside.

 

Here is a monthly breakdown of those attacks and losses they left:

 

-January: SOHR documented 39 rocket and drone attacks, which left human and material losses among International Coalition Forces; they are distributed as follows:

 

• Ten attacks on Al-Omar oil field base.

 

• 14 attacks on Koniko gas field base.

 

• Four attack on Al-Shaddadi base in Al-Hasakah countryside.

 

• Five attacks on the Kharab Al-Jair base in Al-Rumailan.

 

• Five attacks on Al-Tanf garrison.

 

• One attack on Istrahat Wazir base in Al-Hasakah countryside.

 

The US Central Command admitted the death of three US soldiers and injury of 25 others in a drone attack on a base near the Syria-Jordan border on January 28.

 

 

-February: SOHR documented 15 rocket and drone attacks on US bases in different areas across Syria; they are distributed as follows:

 

• Ten attacks on Al-Omar oil field base.

 

• Five attacks on Koniko gas field base.

 

Those attacks left seven members of the Special Task Forces (Commandos) of Syrian Democratic Forces dead.

 

 

-March: SOHR documented no attacks by Iranian-backed groups on US bases in Syria.

 

 

-April: SOHR documented six attacks by Iranian-backed groups on US bases in different areas across Syria; they are distributed as follows:

 

• US base in Koniko gas field: Two attacks.

 

• Al-Tanf garrison: Two attacks.

 

• Kharab Al-Jair base: Two attacks.

 

 

-May: SOHR documented one attack by Iranian-backed groups, which targeted the US base in Koniko gas field.

 

 

-June: SOHR documented two attacks by Iranian-backed groups, which targeted Al-Tanf garrison.

 

 

-July: Iranian-backed groups carried out three attacks on the US base in Koniko gas field.

 

 

-August: SOHR documented six attacks by Iranian-backed groups on US bases in Syria; they are distributed as follows:

 

• US base in Al-Omar oil field: One attack.

 

• Kharab Al-Jair base: One attack.

 

• US base in Koniko gas field: One attack.

 

Washington acknowledged of the injury of eight US soldiers in the attack which targeted Kharab Al-Jir base.

 

 

It is worth noting that US bases in Syria came under attacks carried out by Iranian-backed groups on 136 occasions since the beginning of Israel’s brutal aggression on Gaza on October 19, 2023.