Modern warfare and the attacks on Fort Drum soldiers in Iraq, Syria

(WWNY) - The conflict between Israel and Hamas is spilling over into areas other than Gaza, and U.S. forces including Fort Drum soldiers are being targeted.

According to the Pentagon, nearly 40 attacks against the U.S. have happened in Iraq and Syria. The head of the terrorist group Hezbollah says the U.S. must pay the price for the crimes perpetrated by Israel.

The attacks are being done through rockets and unmanned suicide drones.

“They are certainly capable of lethality against personnel and even lightly armored vehicles,” said Robert Murrett, a professor at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs.

He says the fight has become very technical.

“Some of the best ways to combat them are actually with electronic warfare through jamming signals and making it more difficult for them to use GPS and other forms of guidance,” he said.

Many of the attacks in Iraq and Syria have been defeated, but not all.

On October 17 and 18, Fort Drum public affairs says multiple soldiers assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team were treated for traumatic brain injury symptoms. Two needed treatment at a hospital in Germany.

The soldiers left Fort Drum this past July for a 9-month deployment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve to defeat the Islamic State. In all, 2,500 Fort Drum soldiers went, making up most of the 3,400 U.S. soldiers in the region.

According to the Pentagon, at least 45 service members have been hurt from the attacks since mid-October. The groups behind the attacks are supported by Iran and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a surprise visit to Iraq on Sunday and talked about the attacks.

“We’re not looking for conflict with Iran. We’ve made that very clear. But we’ll do what’s necessary to to protect our our personnel be they military or civilian,” he said.

While in Iraq, Blinken held talks with its prime minister seeking Baghdad’s help in cracking down on attacks on U.S. forces.

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