US Shoots Down Iranian Drone, Heightening US-Iran Tensions in Syria
On Tuesday, US forces shot down an Iranian-made drone that had been conducting reconnaissance over Mission Support Site Conoco, a patrol base in northeastern Syria.[0] The incident has highlighted the ongoing tensions between the US and Iran, both of which have been conducting counterterrorism operations in Syria.[1]
The drone was reportedly Iranian-manufactured and flew over Conoco, a base housing hundreds of American troops. US Central Command said in a statement that the drone was shot down at 2:30 p.m.[0] Tuesday.[2]
The US backs a Kurdish-led group known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, which leads an autonomous government in northeastern Syria, while Iran supports the central government in Damascus.[1]
The US has accused Iran of seeking to expand its influence in Syria through support for militias that have targeted US forces in the past.[1] Iran, the Syrian government, and Russia have also accused the US of exploiting Syria's natural resources through a military presence the trio has deemed illegitimate.[3]
In addition, US officials have presented evidence of the supply of Iranian drones to Russia, with indirect involvement of the Islamic Republic in the war in Ukraine. Iranian companies have also been accused of involvement in the delivery of aerial drones to Russia, which Moscow has used in attacks against civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.
The incident has highlighted the ongoing tensions between the US and Iran, both of which have been conducting counterterrorism operations in Syria.[1] This is further evidenced by an attack conducted last month by quadcopters on Iranian soil, which the Islamic Republic has blamed on its top foe, Israel.
0. “Iranian-made drone downed at US base in Syria, CENTCOM says” Stars and Stripes, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.stripes.com/theaters/middle_east/2023-02-15/syria-centcom-drone-iran-9144232.html
1. “U.S. Military Shoots Down Suspected Iranian-made Drone Over Syrian Oil Site” Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.newsweek.com/us-military-shoots-down-suspected-iranian-made-drone-over-syrian-oil-site-1781296
2. “Iranian Drone Downed In Northeastern Syria: CENTCOM” ایران اینترنشنال, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.iranintl.com/en/202302154167
3. “US military shoots down Iranian-made drone over oil site in Syria” msnNOW, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us-military-shoots-down-iranian-made-drone-over-oil-site-in-syria/ar-AA17vf5O?li=BBnb7Kz
