Two major US bases in Syria and Iraq have been targeted by drones and a barrage of rockets, amid rising anti-American sentiments over Washington’s unconditional support for Israel’s onslaught on the Gaza Strip.
Lebanon’s Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network, citing informed sources speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that two rockets struck the US military installation at the Conoco gas field in Syria's eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr early on Tuesday morning.
There were no immediate reports about the extent of damage caused and serious casualties.
The sources added that another explosion ripped through the al-Omar oil field in the same Syrian province shortly afterward, as several rockets hit the vicinity of the US base set up in the energy-rich region.
Elsewhere in Iraq’s western province of Anbar, two combat drones hit targets inside Ain al-Asad Air Base, located about 160 kilometers (100 miles) west of the capital Baghdad.
Sabereen News, a Telegram news channel associated with the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), reported that a number of rockets had targeted the base.
Local sources said there were no casualties as a result of the attack.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, later in a statement claimed responsibility for the strike.
Last week, a total of 21 US service members reported “minor injuries” as a result of drone and rocket attacks on American military bases in Iraq and Syria, according to the Pentagon.
“Between October 17 and 18, 21 US personnel received minor injuries due to drone attacks at al-Asad Airbase, Iraq, and al-Tanf Garrison, Syria,” Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said.
Meanwhile, a senior defense official told reporters on Monday that the total number of drone attacks on bases in Iraq and Syria housing US troops has grown to at least 23.
That amounts to at least 14 attacks in Iraq and at least nine attacks in Syria since October 17, according to the official.
