US intercepts drone at American Al Tanf outpost in Syria

In the second such attack in the past two months, the outpost was targeted by an Iranian drone attack.

 A drone is seen during an Iranian Army exercise dubbed 'Zulfiqar 1400', in the coastal area of the Gulf of Oman, Iran, in this picture obtained on November 7, 2021 (photo credit: IRANIAN ARMY/WANA/REUTERS)
A drone is seen during an Iranian Army exercise dubbed 'Zulfiqar 1400', in the coastal area of the Gulf of Oman, Iran, in this picture obtained on November 7, 2021
(photo credit: IRANIAN ARMY/WANA/REUTERS)

The US military intercepted a small drone at the American Al Tanf outpost in southeastern Syria on Tuesday, with Iranian or Iran-backed forces suspected of launching it, NBC News reported on Thursday.

Capt. Bill Urban, spokesman for US Central Command (CENTCOM), stated that two drones entered the airspace around Al Tanf on Tuesday evening, with US forces shooting one of the drones down as it demonstrated "hostile intent."

A military official told Fox News that the drone was shot down in an air-to-air strike.

The second drone left the area. No casualties or damage were reported in the incident.

In October, a drone attack targeted Al Tanf, with The New York Times reporting that it was conducted as Iranian retaliation to Israeli airstrikes in Syria.

 A drone is launched during a large-scale drone combat exercise of Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in Semnan, Iran January 6, 2021.  (credit: IRANIAN ARMY/WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS)
A drone is launched during a large-scale drone combat exercise of Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in Semnan, Iran January 6, 2021. (credit: IRANIAN ARMY/WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS)

According to the Times, the attack in October involved five suicide drones which targeted the base, although only two detonated on impact. Most of the American troops at the base had been evacuated hours earlier after Israeli intelligence tipped them off.