US troops in Syria assessed for possible traumatic brain injuries
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The attack occurred near the Military Support Site Euphrates, a US-operated base in eastern Syria.
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American soldiers patrol near a prison that was attacked by the ISIS militants in Hasakeh, Syria, Tuesday, February 8, 2022 (AP)
Three US service members are being evaluated for potential traumatic brain injuries following an attack involving rockets and mortars targeting American forces in Syria on Tuesday, the Pentagon announced.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon's chief spokesperson, confirmed the development on Thursday, stating, "As you know, those numbers can fluctuate. I’m not aware of any other injuries at this time."
"Again, we’ll not hesitate to take appropriate action and protect our forces if they are threatened."
The attack occurred near the Military Support Site Euphrates, a US-operated base in eastern Syria, according to the Associated Press.
However, Ryder declined to confirm whether the injured personnel were on the base at the time of the incident.
US Central Command, responsible for military operations in the Middle East, is still investigating the source of the attack.
Earlier this week, Ryder mentioned a separate rocket attack on another US facility in Syria, claiming no injuries or infrastructure damage resulted from that incident.
Approximately 900 US troops and an undisclosed number of contractors remain stationed in Syria as part of what Washington describes as an effort to combat ISIS.
Despite the defeat of the terrorist group in late 2017 at the hands of the Axis of Resistance, the US has maintained its military presence in Syria. Meanwhile, Iraq’s parliament voted in 2020 to expel US forces from the country.
Elsewhere Ryder claimed on Thursday that the US is not involved in the current developments in northwestern Syria involving the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group, reiterating, “The US has no role in what’s happening right now in terms of northwestern Syria and HTS."
But a couple of days ago, Al Mayadeen's correspondent confirmed that US occupation forces had instructed Deir Ezzor Military Council militants to launch an attack on Syrian Army positions in the seven villages in the Deir Ezzor countryside, coinciding with an offensive by HTS and other opposition factions on Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama countrysides.
The Deir Ezzor Military Council stands for armed groups supported by US occupation forces, operating under the SDF and controlling areas north of the Euphrates River, where several US military bases are located.
Sources told Al Mayadeen that the Americans’ goal in supporting the SDF's attack is to stop the Resistance attacks on the Conoco base due to its proximity to these villages.
However, the offensive was thwarted by the army, allied forces, and locals, the sources confirmed.
Read more: Deir Ezzor tribes urge US coalition to stay away from terrorist plans
