Pro-Iranian militias attacked two sites with U.S. troops in Syria and wounded three, prompting U.S. helicopters to fire in response.
The Central Command (CENTCOM) for U.S. forces in the Middle East said a series of rockets hit the Conoco logistics base in northeastern Syria at 7:20 p.m. on Aug. 24.
The second raid followed shortly thereafter against the Green Village support base in the east of the country.
One U.S. soldier suffered minor injuries, while two were undergoing medical examinations to determine their injuries. No one’s life was in danger.
“U.S. forces responded with armed helicopters, destroying three motor vehicles and rocket launchers. Initial assessments showed that three suspected pro-Iranian militants were killed.
The United States does not want to cause conflict with Iran, but we will continue to take necessary measures to protect our troops,” the CENTCOM statement said.
Iranian and Syrian officials have not commented on the report.
The rocket strike appeared to be in retaliation for the U.S. military’s attack on the infrastructure of “several organizations linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps” in Syria’s Deir Ezzor province on Aug. 23. U.S. President Joe Biden earlier ordered airstrikes in response to a UAV attack on the Washington-controlled Al-Tanf base in southeastern Syria a week earlier.
