BEIRUT – An attack on US troops’ residences in eastern Syria occurred late Sunday after rockets were fired from surrounding areas, an opposition war watchdog and a spokesman for US-backed fighters said.
No one was hurt in the attack, in which two rockets were fired at the al-Umar field in Syria’s eastern province of Deir al-Zour, according to Siamend Ali, a spokesman for the US-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. He said it was not clear from where the rockets were fired.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the rockets were fired from areas controlled by Iran-backed fighters, also in the area of Mayadin, in Deir al-Zour.
The US military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The rocket attack came six days after a similar attack by US troops in eastern Syria. Last week’s attack came a day after US Air Force planes carried out airstrikes near the Iraq-Syria border, which the Pentagon said were being used by Iran-backed militia groups to support drone strikes inside Iraq. There were facilities.
Hundreds of US troops are stationed in northeastern Syria, working with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces to fight the Islamic State group.
Thousands of Iran-backed militias from the Middle East are stationed in various parts of Syria, many of them in areas along the border with Iraq.
Iran-backed fighters have joined President Bashar Assad’s forces in Syria’s 10-year conflict. His presence helped tip the balance of power in Assad’s favor.