U.S. forces in Syria, Iraq targeted 31 times since October 17: official

This picture taken from a position near Sderot along the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip on November 4, 2023, shows fire and smoke billowing follwoing an airstrike by Israeli forces on the Palestinian enclave amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

A senior U.S. defense official told Fox News that the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has logged 31 attempted attacks by terrorist groups in the Middle East since October 17.

Militant groups, likely assisted by Iran, have been launching one-way projectiles towards American forces since mid-October, days after the Israel-Hamas war began.

According to the official, American forces sustained injuries and infrastructural damage in the first two days. The attacks were all conducted with drones or rockets.

On Tuesday, it was reported that American forces were attacked 27 times since October 17. At least 24 troops have been injured, and one American contractor has been killed.

Of the incidents that were reported on Tuesday, 16 took place in Iraq and 11 happened in Syria. It is unclear where the newly-reported four other attacks took place.