U.S. forces successfully intercepted several one-way attack drones launched by Iranian-backed militias on Friday as they approached two American bases—Mission Support Site (MSS) Euphrates and MSS Green Village—located near the Conoco gas fields in northeastern Syria, military officials confirmed.
The drones, which were reportedly aimed at disrupting U.S. operations in the region and inflicting mass casualties, were downed before reaching their targets.
Attacks against the U.S. military earlier in the week prompted American forces to respond with several days of retaliatory airstrikes against hostile militias in Syria, as reported by Air & Space Forces Magazine:
U.S. military targeted an unspecified Iranian-backed militia group’s “weapons storage and logistics headquarters facility” in Syria on Nov. 12 in response to an attack on U.S. troops at Patrol Base Shaddadi, U.S. Central Command, which oversees American forces in the Middle East, said in a statement. No U.S. troops were injured, the command said.
The day before, the U.S. military conducted airstrikes on nine targets in two locations in Syria following “several attacks on U.S. personnel in Syria over the last 24 hours,” CENTCOM said in an earlier statement.
CENTCOM’s releases are the first time the U.S. military has acknowledged recent attacks on American forces by Iranian-supported militias.
Providing additional details, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder told reporters Nov. 12. that U.S. troops were attacked twice in Syria at the Mission Support Site Green Village in northeast Syria on Nov. 10. He said there were no U.S. injuries as a result of the attacks.
Why Are U.S. Troops in Syria?
The U.S. maintains a presence in Syria primarily to combat the resurgence of ISIS and stabilize regions previously controlled by the militant Islamic terror group. Although President Joe Biden has previously stated that U.S. troops are not involved in active combat zones, American forces are stationed in northeastern Syria as part of a counterterrorism mission. These efforts often involve collaboration with local Kurdish-led forces, particularly the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
About MSS Euphrates and MSS Green Village
MSS Euphrates and MSS Green Village are key military sites supporting U.S. operations in Syria. Located strategically near the Conoco gas fields, these bases serve as logistical hubs and support points for intelligence gathering, counterterrorism and training missions. Their proximity to critical energy infrastructure underscores their importance in stabilizing the region and preventing its control by hostile forces.
Broader Implications
The attack is part of a larger pattern of escalating threats from Iranian-backed militias across the Middle East, raising concerns about the safety of U.S. personnel and assets.
Such incidents continue to test the U.S. military’s capacity at a time when critics warn that the Biden administration’s focus on diversity initiatives has gravely weakened it.
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Update drone defenses then
Not a war. Right. Just like Korea was a police action. Sure makes a big difference when you’re drafted and killed.