Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder briefed reporters last week about a spate of militia attacks on U.S. forces. Photo: Sra Cesar Navarro/Dod/Zuma PressWhen a drone laden with explosives was found late last month lodged in the upper floors of U.S. barracks in Iraq, Pentagon officials quickly realized how close the suspected militia-launched weapon came to killing American personnel. In this case, the explosives failed to detonate, and there were no reports of injuries. But as the number of these attacks escalates, so too does the risk of a deadly incident that will demand a response from the U.S. military, edging it closer to direct confrontation with Iranian-backed groups it suspects are responsible.

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Persons: Pat Ryder, Cesar Navarro, Dod Organizations: Pentagon, U.S . Locations: U.S, Iraq, Iranian