By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
WASHINGTON/TEHRAN (Worthy News) – Iranian militias have attacked American bases in Syria and Iraq at least 118 times since October 17, including five times since the start of 2024, injuring scores from U.S. forces, Worthy News learned Wednesday.
The attacks resulted in 66 injuries to U.S. troops, a number that has held steady since December 7, U.S. military officials confirmed.
The Pentagon described the injuries, including even dozens of traumatic brain injuries, as “non-serious.” All of the troops have since returned to duty, according to defense officials.
Nobody was apparently killed in part because most of the attacks either didn’t reach bases or were shot down by U.S. defenses, U.S. and Israeli sources said.
In the latest known on Tuesday, multiple rockets were reportedly fired at Patrol Base Shaddadi in Syria while drones targeted Erbil Airbase in Iraq and Mission Support Site Green Village in Syria.
While no injuries or material damage was reported in the most recent attacks, the blasts highlighted growing regional tensions that Israel warned could lead to a Third World War.
Wednesday also marked the bloodstained fourth anniversary of the assassination by the United States of Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani and Iranian-Iraqi commander of the Popular Mobilization Forces Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
MANY DEATHS
More than 100 people died in two bomb blasts Wednesday near the tomb of Iranian General Soleimani, Iran’s state television reported.
Footage showed bodies strewn on the street in the southeastern city of Kerman, where some tended to injured survivors while many others fled the scene.
Critics say the blasts could give Iran a pretext for more military strikes against the United States and Israel.
As tensions rose, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that Houthis in Yemen launched two ballistic missiles at ships in the Red Sea on Tuesday night.
It was believed to be the 24th attack on commercial shipping by Houthis in the Red Sea since November 19.
No damage to the vessels was reported in the latest attacks. However, “Several commercial ships in the area reported the impact of the launches around them, although none reported damage. The attacks on innocent seafarers continue to disrupt the free flow of international trade,” CENTCOM said in a statement.
Also on Tuesday, Danish shipping giant Maersk announced it was halting Red Sea and Gulf of Aden shipping until further notice as one of its vessels was attacked by Houthis this weekend.
EXTENDING PAUSE
The decision extends a 48-hour pause implemented immediately after the attack by four small Houthi boats on the container ship Maersk Hangzhou.
U.S. Navy helicopters responding to the distress call sank three of the four boats, killing the crews, after coming under fire, the Iran-supported Houthis acknowledged.
Following the violence, vessels will be rerouted around the longer Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, Maersk announced.
Late last month, the company pledged the resumption of shipping in the Red Sea after previously suspending operations due to the Houthi threat.
This company made the move by saying it had confirmation” that “Operation Prosperity Guardian,” a U.S.-led multinational navy coalition in the Red Sea, would be deployed to protect shipping.
Yet the recent attacks were the last straw for the firm to avoid the Red Sea area, one of the world’s most strategic waterways.
Copyright 1999-2024 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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