WASHIGTON, November 1. /TASS/. US military bases in Iraq and Syria came under attack 27 times since October 17, Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said.

"Since our self-defense strikes on October 26, there have been six additional what I would consider small-scale attacks, three in Iraq [and] three in Syria. Right now we are tracking a total of 27 attacks: 16 in Iraq and 11 in Syria [since October 17]," the spokesman said.

He added that no damage or casualties were reported during the latest six attacks.

Earlier on Tuesday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin demanded to stop attacks on US forces deployed in the Middle East, which he claims were carried out with Iran’s support. He also vowed that the Pentagon would take measures if these attacks continue.

The Pentagon reported that at US President Joe Biden’s direction, US military forces had conducted strikes on two facilities in eastern Syria reportedly used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups late on October 26. According to the defense secretary, "these precision self-defense strikes are a response to a series of ongoing and mostly unsuccessful attacks against US personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-backed militia groups that began on October 17." Biden directed the action "to make clear that the United States will not tolerate such attacks" and will defend itself, its people, and its interests, the US defense chief added.

In his words, 21 US servicemen were slightly injured as a result of these attacks. All have since returned to duty. Besides, one US citizen contractor died from a cardiac incident while sheltering.