US attacks Iranian bases in Syria in retaliation for drone attack

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, an Iranian paramilitary group that corresponds only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is suspected of conducting bomb-laden drone strikes across the Middle East. Recently, Russia began using Iranian drones to attack sites across Ukraine as part of its war on Kiev. Iran has denied responsibility for these attacks, but Western countries and experts have linked drone components to Tehran.

The attack and the US response threaten to undermine recent efforts in the region to de-escalate tensions as Saudi Arabia and Iran work toward reopening embassies in each other’s countries. The kingdom also acknowledged efforts to reopen its embassy in Syria, where President Bashar al-Assad has been backed by Iran in his country’s long civil war.

Syria’s state news agency SANA did not immediately acknowledge the strike. The Syrian mission to the UN did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

There was no immediate reaction from Iran to the strike during Ramadan, the holy Muslim fasting month. Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Qatar’s state news agency reported a phone call between Qatar’s foreign minister and US national security adviser Jake Sullivan. Doha has recently been the interlocutor between Iran and the United States amid tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Loading

Qatar’s Foreign Minister also met with Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amiravdrahian at about the same time.

Two of the wounded servicemen were treated at the scene, while the other three and the injured contractor were taken to a medical facility in Iraq, the Pentagon said.

Reuters, AP