Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Pentagon sending 300 more troops to Mideast as attacks mount against US bases
Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder says the total number of rocket and drone attacks on US bases in Iraq and Syria has risen to 27, including 6 small-scale attacks that have taken place since US warplanes struck weapons storage areas for Iranian-backed militias in Syria last week.
In total, there have been 16 attacks on US bases in Iraq and 11 in Syria.
In addition, Ryder says the Pentagon is sending an additional 300 troops to the Middle East who specialize in explosive ordinance disposal and communications.
Those forces will be there to bolster US troops already in the region, Ryder says.
