Deal or No Nuclear Deal, U.S.-Iran Skirmishes in Syria Are Here to Stay

A recent round of Iran-U.S. skirmishes in Syria demonstrates that bilateral tensions will linger regardless of a potential nuclear deal, and more such conflicts could eventually threaten U.S. political support for troop deployment in Syria. Reported Iran-backed forces launched a drone on Aug. 15 at the U.S. military garrison in al-Tanf, Syria, and on the same day, a rocket attack took place against U.S. forces in the northeast of the country. In retaliation, the United States struck targets linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on the Syria-Iraq border on Aug. 23. Iran continued the skirmishes, responding on Aug. 24 with more attacks on U.S. forces that wounded at least three troops, and the United States responded again with attack helicopters and artillery, reportedly killing several militants. ...