24 US service members injured in Oct. 18 attacks in Iraq and Syria

Some two dozen service members were wounded in drone and rocket attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria last week, U.S. Central Command confirmed Wednesday.

Twenty American personnel “sustained minor injuries” from multiple one-way attack drones launched against U.S. and Coalition forces at al-Tanf Garrison in Syria on Oct. 18, a CENTCOM spokesperson told The Hill.  

One drone was destroyed in the attack but there was no damage to the base infrastructure, and all 20 personnel returned to duty, they said.  

The same day, four other U.S. personnel sustained minor injuries from two separate drone attacks, one of which was shot down, at al-Asad Airbase in Iraq.  

“One drone had effects on the base,” according to the spokesperson.  

The four personnel were returned to duty, they added. 

An American civilian contractor also died of a heart attack at the base, but it did not happen during one of the drone attacks. 

The Pentagon confirmed the attacks last week but not the number of U.S. casualties. 

NBC News first reported on the number of wounded.  

The injuries were revealed as attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria have jumped, with 13 such incidents occurring within a week.  

Between Oct. 17-24, drone and rocket attacks targeted American troops 10 times in Iraq and three times in Syria, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters Tuesday. 

There is no evidence that Iran had ordered the attacks, but Defense Department officials have suggested that Tehran and its proxies are behind them. 

The amped up assaults also come amid the Hamas-Israel war, with U.S. officials concerned that Iran and the groups it backs may use the conflict to open another front in the war or further destabilize the region.