Attacked By Armed Groups In Syria, US Military Claims No Casualties

United States military illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/The US Army)

JAKARTA - The United States (US) military received direct attacks from armed groups in Eastern Syria last Saturday, although there were no casualties in the incident.

According to Reuters on Monday, July 12, a US defense official, who asked not to be named, said that apart from no casualties, his party did not suffer any damage as a result of the attack.

The incident is the latest in a series of attacks on US personnel in Iraq and Syria in recent days. The official source said the attack took place in the Conoco region of Syria.

US diplomats and troops in Iraq and Syria were targeted in three rocket and drone strikes on Wednesday alone, including at least 14 rockets that hit an Iraqi air base housing US troops, wounding two American service members.

Last Thursday, the Pentagon said it was deeply concerned about the series of attacks on US personnel in Iraq and Syria in recent days.

"They're using lethal weaponry. I don't know how you can say anything other than that it's a serious threat," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters Friday, July 9.

While there has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, analysts believe it was part of a campaign by Iran-backed militias.

An Iraqi militia group allied with Iran vowed to retaliate after a US strike on the Iraq-Syria border killed four of their members last month.

Separately, Iran has denied supporting attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria, as well as condemning US air strikes against Iranian-backed groups.