Blast Reported Near Key U.S. Base In Northeastern Syria
ERBIL, Iraq – An AH-64E Apache helicopter from the 4th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Saber, hovers prior to taking off to conduct a mission, July 11,2017, Erbil, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Stephen James)
Late on August 10, a loud blast was heard near a key base of the United State-led coalition in the northeastern region of Syria.
The base in question is located within a large gas and an oil field near the town of al-Shaddadi in the southern al-Hasakah countryside. The base hosts one of the coalition’s main heliports in the region. Nearly a dozen attack and transport helicopters are usually deployed there.
Citing local sources, Sputnik said that the blast emanated from a large ammunition depot of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces near al-Shaddadi.
Shrapnel from the blast hit the nearby coalition base causing casualties and material losses, according to the Russian news agency, which didn’t provide any additional details.
From its side, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a pro-opposition monitoring group, said that the blast heard near al-Shaddadi was a result of an exercise by the U.S.-led coalition which involved the use of heavy weapons. However, the coalition didn’t report any exercises by its forces in al-Hasakah on the day of the blast.
Tensions have been growing in northeastern Syria for a while now. Earlier this year, the region experienced a deadly confrontation.
Iranian-backed forces attacked three coalition bases in Deir Ezzor and al-Hasakah with rockets and drones in March. The attacks claimed the life of a U.S. military contractor and left 23 U.S. service members and a second U.S. contractor wounded. Back then, the U.S. Central Command responded to the attacks by carrying out a series of strikes against alleged IRGC positions in Deir Ezzor. At least eight Iran-aligned fighters were killed.
The coalition usually acknowledges any attack on its forces in Syria within 24 hours. However, it does not address any attacks against its proxies in the country.
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