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Surge in Iranian Proxy Attacks on American Military Positions in Iraq and Syria

(Washington Post) Alex Horton - Retaliatory airstrikes approved by President Biden have failed to stop a surge in attacks on deployed U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria. Since Oct. 17, U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria have faced near-daily assaults from rocket fire and one-way drones, recording at least 61 incidents and about as many injuries at 10 bases used by American personnel. So far, Biden has authorized three rounds of airstrikes, all in eastern Syria. "Are we trying to deter future Iranian attacks like this? Well, that's clearly not working," said one Defense Department official. Anger over U.S. support for the Israeli military campaign in Gaza has heightened concern among Biden and his deputies that any overreaction to the attacks on U.S. personnel could incite a wider conflict. In conjunction with the airstrikes, administration officials have urged Tehran repeatedly over the past month to rein in the militia groups it supports, cautioning that the U.S. has "the right" to respond "at a time and place of our choosing."
2023-11-20 00:00:00
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