21 soldiers were injured in drone strikes in Iraq and Syria

After several drone strikes on bases housing US forces in Iraq and Syria since October 16, the Pentagon was able to confirm that the attacks resulted in the injury of 21 US service members.

The “minor” injuries occurred following separate strikes on Al-Tanf base in Syria and Al-Asad air base in Iraq on October 17 and 18, according to Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Rader, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement Wednesday, adding that all have since returned to duty.

“It is important to note that in some cases service members may report injuries such as traumatic brain injuries several days after attacks, so numbers may change,” he said.

U.S. Central Command has been working on the total number of strikes over the past two weeks, as bases in Iraq and Syria have detected more potential attacks as well as thwarted some, Ryder told reporters during a press conference on Tuesday.

Defense officials attributed this increase to American support for Israel in its war with Hamas.

“We see the potential for much greater escalation against American forces and personnel in the near term,” a senior Defense Department official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, told reporters on Monday. And let us be clear about this: the road leads to Iran. Iran has funded, armed, equipped, and trained militias and proxy forces throughout the region.