It was not clear who was responsible for the attack, but pro-Syrian regime militias in the region backed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have carried out similar attacks in the past. Iran is a key ally of the Syrian regime.
“Attacks of this kind are unacceptable,” CENTCOM spokesperson Joe Buccino said.
The Rukban camp for internally displaced Syrians is located within the “deconfliction zone” that surrounds the Al-Tanf base. Rukban residents have been living under siege by the Syrian government and its allies since 2019.
The Syrian Free Army tweeted that Friday’s attack “struck a medical clinic used to treat civilians.” The tweet was accompanied by before and after photos of the clinic.
Attacks on medical facilities are unacceptable and illegal under international law. At the same time, they endanger the lives of civilians under siege at Rukban camp who have extremely limited access to medical assistance.
Photo – Medical facility destroyed by a drone attack on Al-Tanf base (Free Syrian Army)