In a series of targeted attacks, American troops have been struck four times by Iranian-backed groups in the Middle East. These incidents occurred following a U.S. strike on an Iranian facility in Syria, which took place on Wednesday. The Pentagon deputy press secretary, Sabrina Singh, revealed on Thursday that this marks the 46th attack since October 17, a period coinciding with the outbreak of a major war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

According to Singh, out of the 46 attacks, 24 have taken place in Iraq, while 22 have occurred in Syria. All of these assaults involved the use of explosive drones and rockets. Addressing reporters at a briefing, Singh affirmed that the United States will not hesitate to respond again, at a time and place of their choosing, if these attacks persist against their personnel.

The recent wave of attacks comes in the wake of the U.S. airstrike carried out on Wednesday, targeting a critical weapons facility in Syria, which was being utilized by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian-backed militants. Singh emphasized that the strike successfully rendered the building non-functional.

In addition to the Syrian strike, tensions escalated as the Houthis, supported by Iran, shot down an MQ-9 Reaper drone off the coast of Yemen. This incident further contributed to the need for the United States to strengthen its presence in the Middle East.

Responding to the ongoing situation, Representative Mike Rogers, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, issued a statement asserting that attacks on U.S. servicemembers, assets, and interests will not be tolerated. Rogers called for more than just hitting a storage facility and urged for a comprehensive response from the U.S.

Sabrina Singh clarified that while the U.S. has been carrying out "proportionate" responses, they have no intention of escalating the conflict. She stated that the primary focus is containment, ensuring that the Israel-Hamas war does not further escalate. Singh explained that the U.S. aims to confine the conflict to these two entities and emphasized that their message has been received.

As tensions escalate in the Middle East, the frequency of attacks on American troops and the U.S. response has become a matter of concern. The American military's continuous vigilance and efforts to safeguard their personnel, assets, and interests will remain at the forefront as they navigate this challenging situation.