ISTANBUL

The Syrian Army said Monday it repelled a “large-scale” drone attack targeting several military bases near the Iraqi border, the SANA news agency reported.

The Syrian Army’s Operations Command told SANA that a large-scale attack involving multiple drones targeted positions near the border with Iraq at dawn.

It said Syrian units were able to confront and shoot down most of the incoming drones.

The military said it will carry out an “appropriate response” to neutralize any threat and prevent further attacks on Syrian territory.

No immediate information was provided on casualties or damage.

The army did not specify the launch site of the drones. Its bases have previously been targeted by similar attacks from within Iraqi territory, the most recent being on Saturday, though no group has claimed responsibility.

An Iraqi group loyal to Iran, calling itself Saraya Awliya al-Dam (Brigades of the Guardians of Blood), claimed responsibility for a previous attack a week earlier that targeted a Syrian army base in the northeastern province of Hasakah.

Regional escalations have continued to rage since Israel and the US launched an offensive against Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people to date, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.