Missiles and UAVs attack a series of US bases in the Middle East

US military base in al-Asaliyah, Syria (Photo: Getty).

Reuters quoted a US military official as saying that US and international forces were attacked at two locations in northeastern Syria with multiple missiles and drones on November 23.

In Iraq, multiple drones were launched at the Ain Al-Asad air base west of Baghdad and one drone was launched at a base housing US forces near Erbil airport in northern Iraq.

US officials said there were no casualties or damage to infrastructure in the attacks.

A group calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attacks, which analysts believe were carried out by a number of Iraqi militias with links to Iran.

The attacks came a day after the US struck the Iran-aligned Kataeb Hezbollah (KH) militant group south of Baghdad in an attack that KH said killed eight members.

The attack was condemned by the Iraqi government as an escalation of tensions and a violation of sovereignty.

Also on November 23, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner shot down "multiple attack drones (UAVs)" launched from areas controlled by Houthi forces in Yemen.

CENTCOM said the drones were shot down while the US warship was patrolling in the Red Sea. CENTCOM confirmed there was no damage to the warship or injuries to the crew.

Previously, the guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner also shot down a UAV launched from Yemen over the Red Sea on November 15.

Last month, another US warship intercepted four cruise missiles and 15 drones launched by the Houthis from Yemen toward Israel.

Since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted last month, the US has carried out airstrikes against Iran-aligned militias in Syria and Iraq in response to a series of attacks on US troops in the two Middle Eastern countries.

As of November 23, there had been 36 attacks on US forces in Iraq and 37 in Syria, US military officials said.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the attacks were carried out with Iran's support, and warned that the Pentagon would respond if the attacks continued.

The White House has accused Iran of "actively facilitating" Tehran-backed groups to carry out missile and drone attacks on US military bases in Iraq and Syria.

Meanwhile, Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani warned that the US could face a "serious attack" if Washington did not intervene to end the war between Israel and Hamas.

After the conflict broke out in Gaza, the US deployed a series of weapons and soldiers to the Middle East, including a cruise missile submarine and two aircraft carrier strike groups.

Israel began a "full siege" of the Gaza Strip after Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7. Fighting over the past month has left more than 10,000 people dead in Gaza and Israel.

The US has declared that it always supports Israel and is ready to provide military aid to help Israel respond to Hamas. However, Washington also emphasized that Tel Aviv needs to comply with the "laws of war" to avoid civilian casualties.

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