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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran | |
| Likely US airstrikes on Iranian-linked positions in eastern Syria soon | |
| 2021-10-21 | |
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
[JPost] While pro-Iranian militias in Iraq have increasingly used drones, the use of drones in Syria against US forces is relatively rare. An attack aimed at Tanf, a lonely outpost in Syria near the Jordanian and Iraqi border, was reported on Wednesday night. There were no casualties, according to a statement by US officials. According to BBC correspondent Nafiseh Kohnavard, there was a "drone attack on US troops in Al Tanf, Syria." She noted that local forces said the drone came from the Iraq-Syria border area. Other reports online said the attack may have been done with rockets, not drones, though US officials confirmed it was a drone attack. An inquiry to the US-led Coalition was sent to confirm the incident, but no reply was heard as of press time. Pro-Iranian groups have increasingly used drones to target US forces in Iraq— including at the airport in Erbil— as well as Al-Asad base and US forces based in Syria. The drones were likely manufactured in Iran and trafficked to Iraq, though some of them may also be constructed in Iraq. Iran has exported drone blueprints and technology to Yemen, Gaza, Lebanon, and to pro-Iranian groups in Syria and Iraq. An Iranian drone flown from Syria targeted Israel in February 2018, and in May 2021 a drone flown from Iraq or Syria also flew into Israeli airspace. In both cases, Israel shot them down. Hamas also used Iranian-style drones in the conflict in May. Iran has trained drone operators across the region at a base called Kashan. Israel revealed information about this base in September 2021. An Iranian drone was also used to target a tanker off the coast of Yemen and Oman in July—two crewmembers on the tanker were killed. Iran also targeted Saudi Arabia in September 2019 with drones and cruise missiles. The attack on Tanf is an escalation. While pro-Iranian militias in Iraq have increasingly used drones, the use of drones in Syria against US forces is relatively rare. These drones tend to be "kamikaze" drones, meaning they fly into their target. In June 2017, the US downed an Iranian drone near Tanf. An Iranian-made drone also targeted a US-led Coalition patrol in June 2017 in the same area. | |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 ^Everyone using Syria as a weapons testing ground. |
| Posted by: borgboy 2021-10-21 20:50 |
| #1 Please tell me we aren't getting into another forever war in an area where we have no strategic interests. |
| Posted by: Tom 2021-10-21 13:26 |