Drone Attack Targets U.S. Base in Syria
BEIRUT (AP/SANA) – An attack with drones hit a compound occupied by American troops and U.S.-backed militant groups in eastern Syria on Monday, the U.S. military said, adding that there were no casualties or damage.
The military said the attack took place in the vicinity of al-Tanf base near where the borders of Syria, Jordan and Iraq meet. There was no claim of responsibility for the attack.
U.S. and coalition troops are based at al-Tanf to train militants.
The military statement said troops in coordination with militants — known as Maghaweir al-Thowra — “responded to an attack by multiple unmanned aerial systems in the vicinity of al-Tanf Garrison” on Monday morning.
It said the troops successfully engaged one of the drones preventing its impact while a second one detonated within the militants’ compound, “resulting in zero casualties or reported damage.” There were other drone strikes were, it added.
‘U.S. Troops Kidnap Civilians’
Meanwhile, SANA new agency reported U.S. troops in Syria conducted a “large airborne operation” on Monday morning close to Dayr al-Zawr in eastern Syria.
The American forces landed in Busayra, east of Dayr al-Zawr, and “kidnapped a number of civilians,” according to the report.
The Pentagon claimed that the U.S.-led coalition forces conducted an operation in Busayra with the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that killed four Daesh terrorists.
The U.S. military has stationed forces and equipment in northeastern Syria, with the Pentagon claiming that the deployment is aimed at preventing the oilfields in the area from falling into the hands of Daesh terrorists.
Damascus, however, maintains the deployment is meant to plunder the country’s rich mineral resources.
Former U.S. president Donald Trump admitted on more than one occasion that American forces were in the Arab country for its oil.
Last month, China urged the United States to immediately stop plundering Syria’s national resources after reports said American forces had lately transferred stolen Syrian oil to northern Iraq.