(Patriot.Buzz) – Following a U.S. airstrike on an Iranian facility in Syria, American troops stationed in the Middle East have faced a series of retaliatory attacks from Iranian-backed groups. Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh detailed these incidents in a briefing, noting that since October 17, coinciding with the outbreak of significant hostilities between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, U.S. forces have been targeted 46 times.
These attacks, occurring in both Iraq and Syria, involved the use of explosive drones and rockets, leading to various degrees of damage and injury. Singh elaborated, “If these attacks continue against our personnel, we won’t hesitate at a time and place of our choosing to respond again,” emphasizing the U.S. military’s readiness to retaliate if necessary.
The Pentagon reported that a total of 56 U.S. troops suffered injuries, most of which were minor. All affected service members have since resumed their duties. This surge in hostility follows the U.S.’s strategic strike, which effectively disabled a significant weapons facility in Syria. This facility was being used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other Iranian-backed militants. Singh characterized the U.S. strike as highly effective, stating, “We were able to render that building pretty much non-usable.”
This latest U.S. military action was a response to the downing of an MQ-9 Reaper drone by the Houthis, an Iranian-supported group, off the Yemeni coast. In the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, the U.S. has strengthened its military presence in the Middle East, including carrying out a strike on an Iranian-backed militant site in late October.
However, these developments have caused a stir in the U.S. political arena, particularly among Republicans. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, criticized the Biden administration’s soft response to these attacks, demanding a stronger stance. “The message to terrorists must be clear: attacks on U.S. servicemembers, assets, and interests will not be tolerated,” Rogers asserted, indicating dissatisfaction with the current level of U.S. response.
Singh claimed that the U.S. currently aims for proportionate responses and seeks to prevent further escalation, with a primary objective of containing the conflict to Israel and Hamas. She expressed confidence that the U.S.’s message has been effectively communicated and received by the involved parties.
