On Monday, the United States Department of Defense escalated its rhetoric regarding Iran, stating that it would ultimately hold Tehran accountable for a series of recent drone and rocket attacks on American troops in the Middle East.
While the Pentagon did not have explicit information that the Iranian government ordered these attacks on U.S. forces in the past week, it asserted that the responsible groups were backed by Iran, according to DOD spokesperson Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder.
The attacks, which occurred over several days and targeted bases in Iraq and Syria, resulted in injuries to several U.S. troops. Additionally, an American contractor tragically died of a cardiac episode while responding to a false alarm at the al Asad air base in Iraq.
“By virtue of the fact that they are supported by Iran, we will ultimately hold Iran responsible,” Ryder said.
This statement marked a departure from the Pentagon’s more cautious stance against Tehran, which had been in place since the surprise attacks by Hamas militants on Israel on October 7, triggering an escalating regional conflict.
In a press briefing last Thursday, when the destroyer USS Carney intercepted missiles and drones launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the northern Red Sea, Ryder declined to assign blame for the drone attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria. He also refrained from directly connecting the October 7 strikes to the recent attacks on U.S. troops.
However, on Monday, Ryder referenced statements made by Iranian proxy groups last week, indicating that they would increase attacks on American forces if Israel launched a ground invasion of Gaza. He did not specify which specific Iranian proxy groups were responsible for the attacks but confirmed another attack had taken place in Syria.
In the most recent incident, which occurred at 3 a.m. Eastern time on Monday, American troops at the al Tanf garrison in southern Syria successfully shot down two drones targeting their positions, with no injuries reported.
“We are concerned about escalation,” Ryder said. “We are all watching increased tensions in the region, and again we want to deter this from becoming a bigger conflict.”
In response to the attacks last week, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered additional ships and air defenses to U.S. Central Command to enhance the protection of American forces in the region. This included redirecting the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower strike group from the eastern Mediterranean to an area covering the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and other Middle Eastern waters, instead of its original destination alongside the USS Gerald R. Ford off the coast of Israel.
Austin also ordered the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery and Patriot missile defense system battalions to various locations throughout the region and placed additional forces on “prepare to deploy” orders.
“We’re going to continue to do what we need to do to protect and safeguard our forces and take all necessary measures,” Ryder stated, emphasizing the commitment to protect U.S. forces while hoping to avoid a broader regional conflict.
