Drone Attacks on Bases in Iraq, Syria Injure 24 US Soldiers

A convoy of US vehicles after its withdrawal from northern Syria, at the Iraqi-Syrian border crossing, October 2019 (File/Reuters)
A convoy of US vehicles after its withdrawal from northern Syria, at the Iraqi-Syrian border crossing, October 2019 (File/Reuters)
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Drone Attacks on Bases in Iraq, Syria Injure 24 US Soldiers

A convoy of US vehicles after its withdrawal from northern Syria, at the Iraqi-Syrian border crossing, October 2019 (File/Reuters)
A convoy of US vehicles after its withdrawal from northern Syria, at the Iraqi-Syrian border crossing, October 2019 (File/Reuters)

A series of drone attacks on American bases in Iraq and Syria last week injured 24 military personnel, NBC news reported, citing US Central Command.

The Pentagon confirmed the attacks last week.

CENTCOM said the US personnel sustained minor injuries, noting that the attacks took place on October 18 when at least two one-way attack drones targeted al-Tanf military base in southern Syria.

One of the drones was shot down. All of the wounded personnel were returned to duty, CENTCOM added.

On that same day, another four US soldiers suffered minor injuries during two separate drone attacks against US and coalition forces stationed at al-Asad base in western Iraq.



Lebanon Joins Middle East Green Initiative

 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
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Lebanon Joins Middle East Green Initiative

 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister announced that the country has joined the Middle East Green Initiative, launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to mitigate the impact of climate change on the region.

“This is an essential step for Lebanon, especially since our southern villages and towns have been exposed to significant environmental and agricultural damage due to Israeli attacks, which requires cooperation with all of Lebanon's friends,” a statement released by the Lebanese Council of Ministers quoted Mikati as saying.

Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan welcomed Lebanon’s participation in the initiative, confirming that a high committee has been established to ensure the project’s sustainability and facilitate relevant cooperation.

He noted that the timing of the announcement “comes in light of the continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon, and this matter must be drawn to attention, especially since Israel is destroying very large areas, whether agricultural lands, fruit trees or forests.”

Environment Minister Nasser Yassin said that the Middle East Green Initiative has very important goals to plant 40 billion trees across the region and protect the Gulf and the Middle East from climate change, stop land degradation and desertification and find the means to adapt to future challenges.

The Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture estimates that more than 2.8 million square meters of forest and agricultural land were completely burned, while about 6.7 million square meters of agricultural and forest land were partially damaged as a result of Israel’s attacks and its use of internationally-banned incendiary munitions.