The US military is investigating whether a US service member detonated explosives in an internal attack on a small US base in northern Syria. The action injured four other service members in April, according to three defense officials.
One of the officials confirmed that the suspect is no longer in Syria.
The investigation into the attack on the Green Village base is being carried out by the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division and the Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations. No one has been charged so far.
“The Army and Air Force are conducting a joint investigation of the incident. A possible suspect, a member of the US service, has been identified,” the military said in a statement on Monday.
“At this time these are just allegations, all suspects are found not guilty until/unless convicted in a court of law. The investigation is ongoing, which may or may not develop sufficient evidence to identify a perpetrator(s) and have sufficient evidence to warrant a conviction.”
“No further information will be released at this time,” the statement added.
Initially, US officials said they believed the April 7 attack was caused by an indirect attack on the base in a manner similar to the rocket and mortar attacks that were carried out in the region by militia groups.
However, a week later, a military statement said that, after “additional investigation”, the attack was ruled to be the result of “deliberate placement of explosive charges by an unidentified individual(s) in a storage area”. ammunition and shower facilities”.
The explosives used are described at CNN by two officials as “signifiers” with more detonating power than a hand grenade. One official characterized the explosives as “military grade”.
Authorities said the attack took place in the middle of the night. It is unclear whether the timing of the attack suggests that the attacker was not trying to inflict a high number of casualties or was trying to flee as silently and quickly as possible.
None of the officials have details on a possible motive for the attack. The four wounded soldiers suffered traumatic brain injuries after the blasts, but returned to service at the end of April.
Following the incident, a “commander investigation” was initiated by US Central Command, which oversees operations in Syria, but was turned over to the Army when it became clear that the explosive pattern was not caused by an indirect attack, officials say.
The Biden government maintains around 900 troops in Syria, including special operations forces to advise and assist the Syrian Democratic Forces.
Source: CNN Brasil
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