March 27, 2023: On Thursday, a U.S. contractor was murdered. Five U.S. service people and one U.S. contractor were harmed when a suicide drone reached a coalition base near Hasakah in Syria just much before 2 p.m. local time, the Defense Department stated.

According to the statement, the intelligence community thinks the drone exists of Iranian origin. The U.S. retaliated with airstrikes on linked aims in the area with Iranians.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin states, “At the direction of President Biden, I have authorized U.S. Central Command forces to conduct precision airstrikes tonight in Syria from the east against facilities used by groups affiliated with Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) of Iran.

“The airstrikes were happening in response to today’s attack and a series of latest attacks against Coalition forces in Syria by people affiliated with the IRGC.

“Our thoughts are with the people and colleagues of the contractor who was killed and those who were wounded in the attack much sooner today,” he said.

Two wounded service members are treating on-site, while three others and the wounded U.S. contractor were evaluating medical facilities in Iraq.

On Thursday, Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, the commander of U.S. Central Command, said in testimony to Congress that there were 78 attacks against things housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria since January 2021. The attacks, mainly by drones and rockets, believing to have been carried out by Iran-backed representatives.