Iran plans to escalate attacks against U.S. troops in Syria, documents show
Source: Washington Post
WP EXCLUSIVE
Iran plans to escalate attacks against U.S. troops in Syria, documents show
THE DISCORD LEAKS | Covert plan to kill Americans is seen as part of a larger Russian-backed strategy to oust the United States from Syria
By Joby Warrick and Evan Hill
June 1, 2023 at 5:00 a.m. EDT
Iran is arming militants in Syria for a new phase of lethal attacks against U.S. troops in the country, while also working with Russia on a broader strategy to drive Americans from the region, intelligence officials and leaked classified documents say.
Iran and its allies are building and training forces to use more powerful armor-piercing roadside bombs intended specifically to target U.S. military vehicles and kill U.S. personnel, according to classified intelligence reports obtained by The Washington Post. Such attacks would constitute an escalation of Irans long-running campaign of using proxy militias to launch rocket and drone strikes on U.S. forces in Syria.
Drone attacks have wounded six U.S. service members and killed a Defense Department contractor, and the new explosive devices could add to the toll of U.S. casualties, risking a wider military confrontation with Iran, current and former intelligence analysts and weapons experts say. The same type of weapon, called an explosively formed penetrator, or EFP, was used by pro-Iranian insurgents in lethal attacks against American military convoys during the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
Officials with Irans elite Quds Force unit directed and oversaw testing of one of the explosives, which reportedly sliced through a tanks armored plating in a trial run conducted in late January in Dumayr, east of Damascus, the Syrian capital, according to one of the intelligence reports. The document, part of the trove of classified materials leaked on the messaging platform Discord, appears to be based on intercepted communications by Syrian and Lebanese militants allied to Iran. One apparent attempt to use such devices against U.S. forces was apparently thwarted in late February when three bombs were seized by U.S.-allied Kurdish fighters in northeastern Syria, a second document states.
{snip}
By Joby Warrick
Joby Warrick joined The Washington Posts National staff in 1996. He has served with the Post's investigative and national security teams, and writes about the Middle East, terrorism and weapons proliferation. He is the author of three books, including Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS," which was awarded a 2016 Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction. Twitter https://twitter.com/jobywarrick
By Evan Hill
Evan Hill is an investigative reporter at The Washington Post focused on open-source and visual forensic techniques. He joined The Post from the New York Times in 2023 and was previously a reporter on the Times's Visual Investigations team, where he shared in three Pulitzer Prizes. Twitter https://twitter.com/evanhill
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/06/01/discord-leaks-iran-russia-syria/
Exclusive: Iran is arming militants in Syria for a new phase of lethal attacks against U.S. troops in the country, while also working with Russia on a broader strategy to drive Americans from the region, intelligence officials and leaked classified documents say. https://wapo.st/43ytMA6
Link to tweet
FalloutShelter
(11,860 posts)They are prepared to attack our troops because they know what to expect in retaliation?
I mean, connect the dots.
EX500rider
(10,842 posts)Last edited Thu Jun 1, 2023, 02:46 PM - Edit history (1)
First this is happening in Syria not Iraq and second our battle plan consist of attack isis and help the Kurds but I think Iran already knows that.
Igel
(35,300 posts)weren't in existence in early January 2021.
EX500rider
(10,842 posts)And those are not done that far in advance.
Even Fwd base security plans have probably been tweaked since then
Ray Bruns
(4,093 posts)I am surprised the Kurds are still helping us out after trump sold them down the river.
IronLionZion
(45,433 posts)I empathize with the Kurds and innocent Syrian people caught up in this war but wish the US would not be there. But if the US pulls out the remaining 900 or so troops, then it looks like the terrorists win and encourages more of it. Not many good options here and I can see why Russia is interested. Iran doesn't have many allies, just Russia and Syria.
democratsruletheday
(504 posts)what good comes from us staying there as it escalates? Not much from what I can see.
ripcord
(5,372 posts)Just the same as we have done up to this point for all the Iranian sponsored assaults on our troops, Iran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism and has been getting away with it for decades. Only Israel is willing to stand up to a terrorist Iran and the U.S. is constantly trying to hold them back.
Mosby
(16,306 posts)A nuclear Iran would completely change the dynamic in the Gulf and Levant. If the US/NATO doesn't want to help stop this, they need to step aside.
Response to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)
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marble falls
(57,080 posts)... blame 45 and GQP for putting remaining troops at risk. Iran has a lot more to lose than the US does. But don't worry, the Orange Shitgibbon will be able to put the kibosh on it in 24hrs with one phone call.
former9thward
(31,997 posts)And 900 troops are not going to stop or do anything. They are just sitting ducks.
oldsoftie
(12,533 posts)At first inkling of such an attack, their entire area of support needs to be blown to pieces. Make an example.
former9thward
(31,997 posts)Assad defeated his opponents. Time to come home.
IronLionZion
(45,433 posts)that's why they are high value targets for our enemies
former9thward
(31,997 posts)Assad defeated his opponents in the civil war.
IronLionZion
(45,433 posts)The US forces' declared mission is to counter against ISIL and Al Qaeda cells still operating in the area.
The conflict is complex with lots of groups with varying missions still ongoing. For some reason, Turkey has troops in Syria fighting with our Kurdish allies.
EX500rider
(10,842 posts)There is lots they can do, the fwd observers call in bomb strikes and special forces can do raids for Intel and take out bomb making factories etc
former9thward
(31,997 posts)Who are they fighting?
EX500rider
(10,842 posts)former9thward
(31,997 posts)We need to be out of Syria. It is not our country and they don't want us there. Would you be ok with Syrian troops in Maine?
EX500rider
(10,842 posts)There are no ISIS camps in the US because we are not a failed State. After 9/11 we learned leaving terror camps to flourish is a bad idea.
former9thward
(31,997 posts)Assad controls almost the whole country except one corner. If Syria is your definition of a failed state then Ukraine must really be one because Russia controls far more territory than the U.S. does in Syria.
And there are countries elsewhere that really are failed states. Central African Republic, Somalia, South Sudan and Nigeria to name few. Nigeria is the largest population country in Africa with over 200 million. Do we go there? Why not?
Alexander Of Assyria
(7,839 posts)So a title could by this authors logic be: America Plans to Escalate Attacks Against Russian and Yemeni Troops who is worlds leading arm supplier for any occasion requiring killing!?
EX500rider
(10,842 posts)Also the US suppling weapons to a democratic state to use in their defense is nothing like Iran giving weapons to terror groups and telling them to attack US troops with them.
oldsoftie
(12,533 posts)To some, the US ALWAYS has to be at fault for whatever bad thing happen anywhere
oldsoftie
(12,533 posts)The US has never attacked Russian or Yemeni troops. but the Russians HAVE attacked US troops. And 300 of them went home in bags because of it.
Yes, abandon every place of trouble & let the Russians & Chinese handle it. What could go wrong?