Iranian-backed Militia Claims Responsibility for Omar Oil Field Assault

In a tragic incident, six members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) lost their lives in a drone attack on a U.S. base in Syria's Deir ez-Zor governorate, as confirmed by the SDF on Monday. The assault, which targeted a training academy in the Omar oil field, was carried out by a drone originating from Syrian-government-controlled areas in Deir ez-Zor, according to the SDF.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that the attack was executed by the so-called Iraqi Islamic Resistance group, linked to Iran. The group claimed responsibility for the assault on the Omar oil field, stating that they targeted an SDF facility, killing five members and injuring 20 others, as confirmed by Rami Abdulrahman, the founder and director of SOHR.

The SDF, condemning the terrorist attack, asserted their right to an appropriate military response to the source of the assault. This incident follows a series of retaliatory actions in the region, notably the U.S. military's strikes on over 85 targets in both Iraq and Syria on Feb. 3. These strikes resulted in the death of at least 13 members of Iran-backed armed groups in Syria, including individuals from the Fatemiyoun Brigade in Afghanistan. The U.S. military justified these actions as a response to the drone attack on Jan. 28, where an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia group targeted a remote U.S. base in Jordan, claiming the lives of three U.S. Army Reserve soldiers.

Mazloum Kobane, commander-in-chief of the SDF, highlighted the persistent threat posed by Iranian-backed militias, revealing that since October, U.S. and coalition facilities have faced over 150 attacks in both Iraq and Syria. Kobane stressed that these attacks were not limited to U.S. bases, as the SDF itself has been a target, citing a previous suicide drone attack on an SDF ammunition depot in Deir ez-Zor.

As tensions escalate in the region, the international community remains vigilant, closely monitoring developments and potential responses to the latest series of attacks.