.THE United States SAYS THAT its own troops in Syria as well as Iraq have been struck at least 55 times since Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7th. Criticizing Iran as well as its stand-ins throughout the Center East, it has actually been hitting back: on Nov 12th United States introduced its third set of air campaign in far eastern Syria because late October. Iran's substitutes possess up until now cut short of introducing strikes that could possibly grab America into full-blown battle. Yet their firepower presents a clear hazard to United States and also its allies. What is this self-proclaimed center of protection, and just how effective is it?