At least two members of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) were wounded Friday in a drone strike on a military base in eastern Syria hosting forces of the U.S.-led international coalition.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has indicated in a statement that three drones have been launched against the Al Tanf base, located near the border with Jordan and Iraq, and has assured that two of them were shot down, while the third one «hit the compound».
CENTCOM spokesman Joe Buccino stressed that «attacks of this kind are unacceptable.» «They put our troops and our partners at risk and jeopardize the fight against the Islamic State,» he criticized, after confirming that the attack resulted in no casualties among U.S. troops.
Hours earlier, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, with informants in the Arab country, had suggested that the attack had been carried out by pro-Iranian militias, although for the moment there is no claim of responsibility.
The attack was carried out just two weeks after another missile attack on a coalition base in the Syrian province of Deir Ezzor (east), an event that ended without casualties.
On the other hand, the U.S. Army announced on Thursday the arrest of an alleged member of the Islamic State involved in the «planning and facilitation» of operations and in «global recruitment efforts» on behalf of the jihadist group.
CENTCOM said in a statement that the operation was carried out on January 18 together with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by the Kurdish militia People’s Protection Units (YPG). Thus, he detailed that the airborne operation was carried out «after extensive planning to ensure its successful execution.» «Initial analysis indicates that no civilians were killed or injured,» he said.
Buccino emphasized that the operation «reaffirms the commitment to the region and the lasting defeat of the Islamic State» and added that the capture of this suspect «will disrupt the terrorist organization’s ability to plan and execute international attacks that threaten U.S. citizens, partners and innocent civilians.»
«Islamic State continues to pose a threat to the United States and its partners in the region. CENTCOM maintains a sufficient and sustainable presence in the region and will continue to address regional security threats,» he reiterated.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
