U.S. contractor killed, five service members and contractor wounded in suicide drone strike in Syria

A U.S. contractor was killed and 5 U.S. work members and 1 U.S. contractor were wounded Thursday erstwhile a termination drone hit a conjugation base near Hasakah successful northeast Syria conscionable earlier 2 p.m. section time, the Defense Department said successful a statement.

The quality assemblage believes the drone to person been of Iranian origin, according to the statement. The U.S. retaliated with airstrikes connected Iranian-linked targets successful the area.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said, "At the absorption of President Biden, I authorized U.S. Central Command forces to behaviour precision airstrikes contiguous successful eastbound Syria against facilities utilized by groups affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

"The airstrikes were conducted successful effect to today's onslaught arsenic good arsenic a bid of caller attacks against Coalition forces successful Syria by groups affiliated with the IRGC.

"Our thoughts are with the household and colleagues of the contractor who was killed and with those who were wounded successful the onslaught earlier today," helium said.

Two wounded work members were treated on-site, portion 3 others and the wounded U.S. contractor were evacuated to aesculapian facilities successful Iraq.

Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla, the commandant of U.S. Central Command, said Thursday successful grounds to Congress that determination person been 78 attacks against facilities lodging U.S. troops successful Iraq and Syria since January 2021. The attacks, chiefly by drones and rockets, are believed to person carried retired by Iran oregon Iranian-backed proxies.