Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Reports Missile Attack on US Base in Al-Omar Oil Field, Syria

On Thursday, February 22, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that following a missile attack by proxy groups of the Islamic Republic, explosions were heard at the US military base in the Al-Omar oil field in the Deir ez-Zor countryside of Syria. This organization, based in London, stated on its website that there are currently no reports of casualties from this attack. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted that this base is the largest US base in Syria. According to the report, the missile attack coincided with ongoing military exercises by US forces at the base and flights of aircraft over areas adjacent to Iranian militia positions in the Deir ez-Zor countryside. The Syrian Observatory did not specify which group carried out the attack, but in the past, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a group composed of several Shiite militia groups supported by the Islamic Republic, has claimed responsibility for several attacks. The report from the Syrian Observatory had not been confirmed or denied by the US Central Command, CENTCOM, at the time of publication. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, since October 19, nearly 120 attacks have been carried out against US-led coalition bases in various areas of Syria by militia groups supported by the Islamic Republic. The organization states that only 34 attacks have been directed at the Al-Omar oil field base. Over the years, Shiite proxy groups of the Islamic Republic have conducted attacks against US positions and bases in the region, but the intensity and number of these attacks have significantly increased following the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas militants in southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of at least 1,200 people, most of whom were civilians. There has been a significant decrease in attacks by the Islamic Republic's proxies on US positions in Iraq and Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported that an Iranian militia weapons depot in the city of Albukamal was targeted. A missile attack occurred in a security area in Damascus; Syria accused Israel of being responsible. Pro-Iran militias are under suspicion; Jordan reported that four drug traffickers were killed at the Syrian border. Politico reported that some Arab governments are limiting US access for operations against the Islamic Republic's proxies.