US troops attacked in Iraq and Syria as EU warns of ‘spillover’ from Israel conflict
Fri 20 Oct 2023 00.32 EDTWestern officials are warning that the risk of regional “spillover” from the Israel-Hamas war is real, after US forces in the region faced increasing threats and American bases in Iraq and Syria were repeatedly targeted by drone attacks.
The Ain al-Asad airbase, which hosts US and other international forces in western Iraq, was targeted by drones and missiles on Thursday evening, according to security sources speaking to the Reuters news agency. Multiple blasts were reportedly heard inside the base.
The Iraqi military said it closed the area around the base and started a search operation. It was not clear yet whether the attacks caused casualties or damages.
The assault came after rockets hit another military base hosting US forces near Baghdad’s international airport on Thursday, according to Iraqi police. US military forces in Iraq were also targeted on Wednesday in two separate drone attacks, with one causing minor injuries to a small number of troops even though the US military managed to intercept the armed drone.
On Wednesday, a drone hit US forces in Syria resulting in minor injuries, while another one was brought down.
Earlier on Thursday, the USS Carney, a Navy destroyer in the northern Red Sea, intercepted three land attack cruise missiles and several drones that were launched by Houthi forces in Yemen.
A Pentagon spokesperson [Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder] told reporters the missiles were “potentially” headed toward Israel but said the US hasn’t finished its assessment of what they were targeting. . .
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/20/us-troops-bases-attacked-iraq-syria-warns-spillover-israel-hamas-war-conflict
We are so screwed. For anyone in the military, the Pentagon does not have your back.