ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Saturday that a rocket attack targeting its forces in northeast Syria failed, without resulting in any casualties or impacting the base.
“This evening at approximately 10:12 p.m. local time in Syria, a 107mm rocket attack targeting Coalition Forces near the Rumalyn Landing Zone failed,” a CENTCOM statement read. It added that an investigation was launched and that other rockets were found the launch site.
The failed attack comes hours after the Syrian ministry of foreign affairs called on the US to immediately withdraw its “illegal forces” from Syrian territory, accusing Washington of stealing Syrian oil and sending it across the border to “northern Iraq.”
Hundreds of US troops stationed in eastern Syria have fought alongside the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) against the Islamic State (ISIS). Last month, at the UN General Assembly meeting, Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Faisal Mekdad said the presence of the coalition “should end immediately,” adding that it contradicts international law.
The tweets by the ministry added that Syria will demand compensation from the US for its “losses”, likely referring to the joint control between the US and SDF over key oilfields in the country’s east.
Last month, at least three rockets targeted the Green Village military installation, housing coalition forces in Deir ez-Zor province.
There have been at least 20 rocket and drone attacks against sites housing American troops in Iraq and Syria this year, according to data compiled by Rudaw English. Such attacks are often attributed to Iran-backed militias and factions, but have never been claimed.
On Thursday, CENTCOM announced it had killed three senior ISIS officials during two separate operations in Syria. The two operations are the latest in a series of US attacks against senior ISIS officials, with the terror group continuing to pose a serious threat to Syria and Iraq despite being territorially defeated.
