Iran’s proxy terrorists are increasingly targeting Mideast bases, which include American military personnel. This raises the possibility of an armed conflict with the US.

Many of these attacks have been foiled by US and NATO military personnel, but others have resulted in minor injuries and damage.

Biden administration officials issued stern warnings to Iran and terror groups that it supports for the continued provocations. A top aide pledged Monday: “We won’t hesitate to protect our troops.”

Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder told reporters Monday.

He said, “Nobody wants to see an even wider regional conflict but we won’t hesitate to protect our troops.”

John Kirby added that “we know Iran’s aim is to maintain a certain level of denial here.”

We won’t allow that to happen. We will not allow anyone to threaten our interests in this region.

Iran provides money, weapons, and logistical assistance to radical terror groups in the Middle East as a counter to its regional rival Saudi Arabia. It also fights against Israel and the United States. Iran’s proxy groups include:

Hezbollah of Lebanon: In 1982, Ayatollah Khomeini chose the name “Party of God”, and 1,500 Revolutionary Guards were sent to train their fighters. Iran used the group to attack Israel during the Syrian Civil War and support Bashar al Assad. Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel after the Hamas attacks, and Iran threatened a full-on attack in the north of the country if Israel invaded Gaza.

Hamas in Gaza: The “Islamic Resistance Movement”, founded in 1987, has strong ties with the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt. It controls Gaza and exerts influence in the West Bank. The group’s goal is to exterminate Israel, despite religious differences. Intelligence indicates that Iran was aware of the Hamas attack on Israel and supported it.

Palestine Islamic Jihad in the West Bank: It is sometimes an ally, and other times a rival to Hamas. It also receives funding from Iran and arms and seeks to overthrow Israel. An Israeli airstrike on a West Bank command center used by Hamas and PIJ was carried out over the weekend. This is a sign the West Bank can be used as a base to attack Israel, which has committed troops to Gaza.

Iran wants to undermine King Abdullah II’s friendly relationship with the US. In the 1970s, the Palestinian Liberation Organization nearly overthrew the government of the nation. Now there are fears that Iran funds anti-government terrorists.

Assad of Syria – Syria is Iran’s most important ally, since both nations allied against Saddam Hussein in Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War. During the Syrian Civil War of 2011, Iran provided President Bashar al Assad with technical support and personnel. Syria has claimed that Israel dropped bombs at airports in Syria since the Hamas attacks, disrupting the flow of Iranian weapons and supplies. Syria fired artillery on Israeli territory. A drone attack from an Iranian-backed group injured US troops at Al-Tanf Base. While Assad might not declare war on Israel he is happy for Iran to use his country as a base to support Hezbollah, Hamas and Hezbollah.

Houthis in Yemen: Islamic rebels that want to overthrow Yemen’s government (left). Their slogan reads “God Is Great, Death to Israel, Bless the Jews and Victory for Islam”. It is a proxy conflict between Iran, who backs the rebels and Saudi Arabia which supports Rashad al Ali. The Houthis launched nine cruise missiles, 15 drones over nine hours last week. The USS Carney destroyer, which the US sent into the Red Sea, shot them down.

Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq: Iran has supported a number groups in Iraq since Saddam Hussein’s fall, and it is pushing for a Shia backed government. Kataib Hezbollah – the “Party of God Brigades” – may be the most deadly. It has launched a series of attacks against US forces. Gen. Qassem Solimani, commander Iran’s elite Quds force, was advising this group in 2020 when he died by a US air strike. Kataib Hezbollah, and other Iran-backed group have fired drones and rockets at the Ain al-Asad base used by the US since the Hamas attacks.

Al-Ashtar Brigades of Bahrain (Brigades Shiites de Bahrain): Shia group seeking to overthrow the Bahraini monarchy with the support of Iran.

He said: “We know Iran closely monitors these events, and in some instances actively facilitates these attacks.”

In the last week, about half a dozen skirmishes have been publicly confirmed between Iranian proxy forces and US troops.

The increase in attacks on American personnel in the Middle East seems to be fueled by Israel’s war in response to Hamas’ surprise attack on the Jewish State, Oct. 7, which was bloody.

A senior Pentagon official said on Monday that there may still be an increase of attacks against American forces in the area.

Fox News reported that a senior defense official said at a briefing: “We expect a much greater escalation in the short term against U.S. personnel and forces.”

The official stated, “Let’s not be confused: the road leads to Iran.”

Syria drone attack Oct. 23

The Iranian-backed Islamic Resistance claimed Monday credit for an attempted attack using two drones on the al-Tanf Garrison in a part of Syria where terrorists have often used the region to transport weapons.

Ryder said that the drones were intercepted and no injuries were reported.

US troops are believed to be stationed in Syria at the moment. Al-Tanf lies near Syria’s border with Iraq and Jordan.

Iraqi rocket and drone attacks October 21-22

Reuters reported that Katyusha missiles struck the Ain al-Asad base, where US and other international forces are based, on Sunday.

Reuters reported that the defense systems of al-Asad’s air base had shot down two drones flying near the base a day earlier.

At least 2,500 US personnel are stationed in Iraq.

Missiles near Yemen Oct. 19

Pentagon: The USS Carney is a Navy destroyer ship operating near the northern Red Sea. It downed several missiles that were believed to be launched by terrorists supported by Iran in Yemen.

Officials claimed they were unsure of the target, but decided to shoot the rockets down after determining that they posed a threat.

Four cruise ships were involved in the incident, which lasted nearly nine hours.