The US Department of Defense (DoD) is investigating whether a service member carried out an attack on a US base in Syria two months ago, injuring four servicemen, CNN reported.
“A possible suspect, a US service member, has been identified,” the outlet quoted a DoD statement. No one has been charged in the incident and the suspect is no longer in Syria, the outlet added, citing sources.
The US Army’s Criminal Investigation Division and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations are conducting a joint probe of the April 7 incident at the Green Village site in northern Syria.
“At this point, these are just allegations, all suspects are presumed to be innocent until/unless convicted in a court of law. 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,” the DoD stated.
Security Footage Reveals Suspect
Iran-backed militias were initially suspected of firing rockets at the site, but a Pentagon investigation revealed a week later that the explosives were placed “deliberately” inside the facility near the troops in the middle of the night.
The military-grade explosives were more powerful than a hand grenade, CNN reported, citing two unnamed officials. The outlet added that security footage of the site has “uncovered two instances of a figure moving quickly.” It’s not clear whether the two sets of footage show the same person.
Investigators are looking into whether guards were present at either location. The perpetrator’s motive or the scale of damage intended are also not clear.
The injured soldiers were treated for “traumatic brain injuries,” CNN wrote, adding that they returned to duty in late April.