{"id":75217,"date":"2023-10-30T16:47:23","date_gmt":"2023-10-30T16:47:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/10\/30\/us-troops-in-iraq-and-syria-attacked-two-dozen-times-in-two-weeks\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T15:44:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:44:44","slug":"us-troops-in-iraq-and-syria-attacked-two-dozen-times-in-two-weeks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2023\/10\/30\/us-troops-in-iraq-and-syria-attacked-two-dozen-times-in-two-weeks\/","title":{"rendered":"US troops in Iraq and Syria attacked two dozen times in two weeks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The total number of drone attacks on bases in Iraq and Syria <\/a>housing U.S. troops has grown to at least 23, a senior defense official told reporters Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That amounts to at least 14 attacks in Iraq and at least nine attacks in Syria since Oct. 17, according to the official, who was not authorized to speak on the record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMany of these attacks were successfully disrupted by our military,\u201d the official added. \u201cMost failed to reach their targets thanks to our robust defenses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some did successfully detonate, however, leaving a total of 21 U.S. troops injured<\/a> so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those \u201cminor injuries,\u201d after which troops returned to duty, occurred during separate attacks on al-Asad airbase in Iraq and al-Tanf garrison in Syria on Oct. 17 and 18, Pentagon spokesman Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria have come under somewhat regular attacks from Iran-backed militias, the attempts have ticked up significantly in October, as the U.S. has pledged support to Israel in its response to the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. response has included moving two carrier strike groups and an amphibious ready group with an embarked Marine expeditionary unit to the eastern Mediterranean and putting 2,000 troops on 24-hour prepare-to-deploy orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\t