US Troops Treated for Injuries After Drone Attack in Syria

Eight US troops are receiving treatment for traumatic brain injuries and smoke inhalation following a drone attack on a military base in northeastern Syria on Friday, August 9. The attack targeted the Rumalyn Landing Zone, which hosts both US and coalition forces.

According to Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the eight service members were transported to a separate location for further assessment and evaluation as a precautionary measure. Three of the service members have since returned to duty, while the others remain under observation. None of the injuries are considered life-threatening.

The US military believes an Iranian-backed Shia militia group carried out the attack, although Ryder noted that the specifics of the attack are still being investigated. This incident comes just days after a similar attack on the Asad Airbase in Iraq, which injured four US service members and a US contractor. Three of those US troops were evacuated for further treatment, while the fourth service member and the contractor were able to return to duty.

The pair of rocket and drone attacks occur amid heightened tensions in the region following the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in a targeted blast while visiting Iran. Iran has blamed both Israel and the US for Haniyeh's death and vowed to respond. The US military has maintained a presence in Iraq and Syria since 2014 as part of a counter-Islamic State mission, with around 900 troops remaining in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq.