American troops in Syria. (archive image) © SNAPSHOT / IMAGO
Iranian militias are actively carrying out attacks in several Middle Eastern countries, including Syria. U.S. troops were to be attacked in the civil war country.
Frankfurt – Syria has been in a bloody civil war since 2011. In addition, thousands of foreign troops from countries such as Russia, Turkey, the USA and Iran are there. The latter two clash again and again: the arch-enemies often carry out their conflict on Syrian soil. Now, an Iranian plan to target American troops in Syria has been leaked, apparently with support from Russia.
Syrian war: Iranian militias probably want to kill US troops with new explosives
Citing intelligence information and leaked secret documents, the US newspaper Washington Post reported on Iran's goals. According to the plan, Iran wants to launch new deadly attacks against U.S. troops while working with Russia on a broad strategy to drive the U.S. out of the Middle East. Both Russia and Iran support the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in the civil war, although there are always serious differences of opinion on various issues.
According to the intelligence reports, Iran is training its militias in Syria to handle explosives that can penetrate the armor of American vehicles. The attacks would be part of the constant missile and drone attacks against American troops. In the past, several US soldiers have been injured in such attacks in Syria and Iraq. U.S. experts are worried that further attacks could increase casualties and escalate the situation, the Washington Post reported.
Apparently, Iran is already testing the explosive devices to be used against US vehicles. A U.S. intelligence report states that such a test was carried out in January near the Syrian capital Damascus - apparently with success. The explosives had penetrated the armor used. Iranian militias may have tried to use the material as early as February, but the attack was thwarted, according to the documents, after US-backed armed groups in northern Syria got their hands on the explosives.
Syrian civil war: Russia participates in plans against the US
Russia is also part of the leaked documents. According to the report, Damascus, Tehran and Moscow are trying to expel the United States from Syria and the entire region. This could allow the Syrian dictator to regain control of the areas east of the Euphrates River. Currently, the area is controlled by predominantly Kurdish militias, which are supported by the United States in the fight against the IS terrorist group. This is also leading to tensions with Turkey, which has already taken military action against the groups three times and has taken over areas in northern Syria.
The Iranian and Russian plan is to incite popular movements and protests against American troops. In November 2022, there had already been a meeting between senior Iranian, Syrian and Russian intelligence officials to establish a coordination center for the campaign against the US, according to the leaked documents from Washington. Apparently, there is no concrete evidence of Russian involvement in the production of the explosive that was supposed to kill US troops. But the documents point to a greater role for Russia against the US, the Washington Post reported in its report. (bb)