Drone Strike That Killed U.S. Contractor in Syria Was Launched by Iran-Backed Militia in Iraq

Wall Street Journal -May 14th, 2023

By Michael R. Gordon

, Warren P. Strobel

and David S. Cloud

An Iranian-backed militia in northern Iraq was behind the drone attack that killed a U.S. military contractor in northeast Syria on March 23 and wounded more than two dozen American civilian and military personnel, according to U.S. officials.

The Iraqi origin of that attack hasn’t been previously reported but was acknowledged by a senior U.S. military official Saturday in response to questions from The Wall Street Journal.

It was one of four attempted drone attacks launched from Iraqi territory by Iranian-backed militias against U.S. forces outside the country since August.

The cross-border strikes illustrate the difficulties the Biden administration faces in the Middle East as it shifts its military focus to deterring China and Russia. It also highlights the challenges the U.S. faces in developing a policy to deal with Iraq 20 years after toppling the regime of Saddam Hussein.

The U.S. has 2,500 troops in Iraq advising local forces battling remnants of Islamic State and has sought to work with Prime Minister Mohammad al-Sudani, who has maneuvered between Washington and Tehran since taking office last October.

The Biden administration has sought to avoid criticism in Iraq that it is interfering in internal politics by conferring quietly with Baghdad officials on the dangers from Iranian-backed militias that hold significant sway in the country.

That approach has drawn criticism from some former officials and experts who say the administration has played down problems in Iraq, including from Tehran-supported militias.

The death of the U.S. contractor in the March 23 attack on a maintenance hangar near Hasakah, Syria, was the first American death in the country since President Biden took office. A second contractor and 24 U.S. service members were injured, with many suffering traumatic brain injuries.

U.S. officials quickly identified the drone as Iranian after examining the wreckage though its launch point was not determined by U.S. intelligence experts for weeks.

“When that attack happened, we did not know the launch point. We were able to exploit the engine of the drone, which had a serial number, which clearly tied it back to Iran,” the senior U.S. official said.

U.S. airstrikes were quickly carried out against facilities in eastern Syria that the U.S. said were linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, killing eight militants.

“We’re not looking to get into tit for tat skirmishes with these groups, which some of the groups want us to do,” said the senior U.S. official. “Our policy is to hold Iran accountable for all these attacks.”

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https://www.wsj.com/articles/drone-strike-that-killed-u-s-contractor-in-syria-was-launched-by-iran-backed-militia-in-iraq-3a5e368a