U.S. forces thwart drone strikes headed for bases in Syria

The American military thwarted two separate drone strikes in Syria, hours after U.S. forces shot down three unmanned aerial systems targeting troops in Iraq early Wednesday, according to a U.S. official and another person familiar with the incidents.

U.S. forces intercepted a number of UAVs headed toward their positions at two separate bases: Al Tanf in the south and Conoco in the northern Deir al-Zor region, according to the U.S. official, who like others interviewed for this story was granted anonymity to speak ahead of a public announcement. The official declined to say how many drones were involved.

The attempted attack was part of a spate of incidents over the last 48 hours in which drones have targeted U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria. The Pentagon has 2,500 troops in Iraq dedicated to supporting Iraqi forces, and 900 in Syria focused on combatting Islamic State terrorists with the Syrian Democratic Forces.