Another US service member suffers “minor” wounds during attacks in Iraq, Syria

PHOTO CAPTION: Representational photo — A U.S. Special Forces soldier observes members of his team, along with partner forces, during range training in Southwest Asia, Sept. 2, 2019. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kyle Alvarez via U.S. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)

WASHINGTON/DUBAI (Reuters) - One more U.S. servicemember suffered minor injuries on Friday during the latest wave of attacks against American forces in Syria and Iraq, two U.S. officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The United States has blamed Iran and militia groups it supports for the more than 60 attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria since mid-October as regional tensions soar over the Israel-Hamas war, which began on Oct. 7.

At least 60 troops have suffered minor injuries, often traumatic brain injuries, since Oct. 17. All U.S. personnel who were wounded have returned to duty, officials say.

On Friday alone, U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria were attacked three times, two American officials and Iraqi Kurdistan officials said.

One of the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a drone attack in Tal Baydar in Syria injured the service member, who quickly returned to duty.

Drones also attacked troops at two locations in Iraq that host U.S. troops, al-Harir air base and at al-Asad base, the official said, but did not cause any damage or casualties.

Iraqi Kurdistan's counterterrorism service, in a statement, confirmed the drone attack on al-Harir.

Thirty-two of the attacks against U.S. troops since Oct.7 have been in Syria, with the remainder in Iraq.

The Pentagon has so far responded by carrying out three sets of strikes against facilities used by Iran and the forces it backs, though the retaliatory strikes so far have been limited to Syria and have not taken place in Iraq.



(Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart in Washington, Clauda Tanios and Timour Azhari in Dubai, Writing by Nayera Abdallah and Phil Stewart; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Jonathan Oatis)