By Jake Thomas
Night Reporter
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The Pentagon is investigating a U.S. service member for possible involvement in an attack on an American base in Syria that injured multiple military personnel.
A spokesman for the Army's Criminal Investigation Division (CID) told the Associated Press (AP) on Monday that it had identified the unnamed service member as a potential suspect in an April incident. While the U.S. military has confirmed it is treating the incident as a possible inside attack, key details on the investigation remain forthcoming.
The CID and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations are investigating the incident, Patrick Barnes, a spokesman for the division, told the AP. No charges have been filed at this time, according to the AP.
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"At this point, these are just allegations, all suspects are presumed to be innocent until/unless convicted in a court of law," the Pentagon told CNN in a statement. "The investigation is ongoing, which may or may not, develop sufficient evidence to identify a perpetrator(s) and have enough evidence to ensure a conviction in a court of law. No further information will be released at this time."
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The U.S. military currently has hundreds of troops in Syria as part of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, the military's operational command for its campaign against the Islamic State.
The Green Village base near the Euphrates River in eastern Syria had received two rounds of "indirect fire" on April 7 that struck two support buildings, according to a report from the U.S. military.
Four U.S. service members were evaluated for minor injuries and possible traumatic brain injuries, according to a statement from Inherent Resolve.
Investigators determined the following week that the explosions were caused by "the deliberate placement of explosive charges" by one or more unidentified individuals at an ammunition holding area and shower facility at Green Village, according to Inherent Resolve.
While the U.S. military has not assigned blame to anyone for the attack—which came amid growing tensions with Iran—the base and others in the volatile region have been subject to additional attacks.
A rocket attack on a military base north of Baghdad in 2020 injured three coalition service members and two Iraqi soldiers.
The U.S. Central Command reported in January that the Green Village base had been targeted with multiple rounds of indirect fire, resulting in no casualties but causing "minor damage" to the inside of the base.
Newsweek reached out to the Army Criminal Investigation Division and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations for comment.
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