Pentagon Blames Iran-Backed Militias for U.S. Troop Injuries in Syria

Latest Developments

Iran-backed militias were responsible for an attack that injured eight U.S. servicemembers in Syria on August 9, the Pentagon said on August 13. Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder gave the assessment during a press briefing without specifying which exact militia was responsible for the August 9 drone attack on Rumalyn Landing Zone, where U.S. and coalition troops are stationed as part of a mission to ensure the lasting defeat of ISIS. Ryder said that eight U.S. servicemembers were transported to an unspecified location, “out of an abundance of caution,” for further evaluation. All eight servicemembers were treated for traumatic brain injury and smoke inhalation. Three of the injured have returned to duty.

During the previous day’s press briefing, Ryder said that the injuries were caused when a single attack drone impacted the base, causing damage to “one set of facilities.” Ryder did not say how or when the United States plans to respond to the attack but emphasized that it will do so “in a time and manner of our choosing.” Since October 17, Iranian proxies have attacked U.S. forces over 170 times, eliciting only a handful of U.S. counterstrikes. The United States maintains a force of approximately 2,500 troops in Iraq and approximately 900 in Syria.

Expert Analysis

“If this administration fails to respond to attacks on American troops with overwhelming force, we should expect more attacks from Tehran and its terror proxies. Sooner or later, the terrorists will get lucky or U.S. defenses will fail — and Americans will be killed. That’s what happened earlier this year. America’s enemies clearly are not concerned about the consequences of attacking U.S. forces. That is an unacceptable status quo both for American national security as well as for the servicemembers deployed in harm’s way and their families.” — Bradley Bowman, Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power

“The Biden administration must respond to this attack with a cost imposition strike on Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps proxies in Syria. Deterrence does not work if the United States only responds after every 100 or so proxy attacks against U.S. forces.” — RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, FDD Senior Fellow and Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology

“A troubling and predictable pattern has emerged over years of Iranian proxy attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria. First, the attacks go unanswered. Then, Americans sustain ‘minor’ injuries. Eventually, the United States delivers a measured response that fails to deter these proxies or Tehran, and the attacks continue. The United States cannot afford to reach the next step of this pattern before responding with overwhelming force. Because, unfortunately, that next step is often a flag-draped coffin.” — Cameron McMillan, Research Analyst

U.S. Forces Injured in Iraq

The attack on Rumalyn happened only days after four U.S. servicemembers and one U.S. contractor were injured during an August 5 rocket attack on the Ain al-Asad Air Base in western Iraq. The August 5 attack was claimed by an Iraqi militia called al-Thawryoon. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin — while not attributing the attack to a specific group — blamed the attack on Iran-backed militias. These militias, a collection of groups that consider themselves part of the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq and Syria,” have increased their attacks against U.S. forces in the region since Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel. Tehran and these groups in Iraq seek to place pressure on the Iraqi government to finalize a deal leading to a full withdrawal of American troops from the region. Some groups have also threatened to attack both Israel and U.S. forces, potentially in coordination with an Iranian attack against Israel, in response to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.

The militias had largely paused their attacks against U.S. troops in early February, following U.S. airstrikes in response to a deadly attack at a base in Jordan on January 28 in which three American servicemembers were killed. There were two attacks against U.S. forces in April. Since July 16, there have been at least seven attacks. On July 16, an unspecified Iranian proxy launched a drone attack against al-Asad, causing minimal damage but no injuries. Additional attacks on al-Asad and Mission Support Site Euphrates in Syria followed on July 25, 26, and 27 with no reports of injuries or serious damage. On July 30, U.S. forces conducted a self-defense airstrike against a militia base south of Baghdad, killing four fighters, including a Yemeni Houthi drone expert, and injuring an additional four.

Related Analysis

“American Forces Under Attack by Iran and its Proxies,” by Cameron McMillan and Brad Bowman

“U.S. Military Strikes Iran-Backed Militias in Iraq,” FDD Flash Brief

“Iranian-Backed Terrorists Resume Attacks on U.S. Troops in Iraq,” FDD Flash Brief

“The consequences of US weakness in Iraq and Syria,” by Bradley Bowman and Cameron McMillan