The main air defense system at the coalition base was reportedly not fully operational when Iranian drones attacked US forces in Syria on March 23, killing an American contractor and injuring several American soldiers.
On March 24, Iranian-backed militias attacked coalition bases with missiles and drones, escalating the conflict in northeastern Syria.
The two attacks on US forces in Syria took place approximately 45 minutes apart. The coalition forces at the Combat Assistance Center at the airport - Koniko were the target of the first attack, which occurred at 22:39 local time.
In the second attack, three suicide drones attacked the town of Al-Khadra around 11:23 p.m. local time. Two drones were destroyed by the coalition's air defense. One of them entered the compound and damaged one building. However, no injuries were reported.
Friday's attacks were the latest in a growing number of reprisals between the United States and groups backed by Iran's Revolutionary Guards.
The conflict, among the worst in the region since 2019, threatens the latest attempts to calm tensions across the Middle East.
American intelligence analysts confirmed that the drone involved in the incident was Iranian-made. General Ryder added that the United States launched airstrikes against military sites linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.