American and coalition forces operating in southeast Syria were attacked Thursday by a drone that hit a coalition patrol, part of a rapidly escalating war with Iranian-backed militias in the country, the Pentagon claimed as cited by Foreign Policy. The attack, which US military officials say caused no casualties or damage to equipment, was the first time US-backed forces had been targeted by a drone in Syria, and indicates that the Bashar Assad government and his allies are willing to target American and coalition troops directly. It also came just after American warplanes reportedly struck Iran-backed militias for the third time in as many weeks near the US garrison at al Tanf.
A spokesman for US forces in Iraq and Syria, Col. Ryan Dillon, told reporters at the Pentagon Thursday the drone was similar in size to a US MQ-1 Predator, indicating it was likely Iranian-made, even if it was piloted by Syrian forces.
