The Pentagon is concerned about the potential for new attacks on American troops stationed in the Middle East from Iran and its proxy forces as the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants escalates in an already tumultuous region, according to Defense Department officials.

DOD officials are specifically worried that Iranian proxy groups in Iraq and Syria, or Iranian forces in the Persian Gulf, could take advantage of the instability in the region to attack American or partner forces operating in those two countries — as they have done in the past, two DOD officials said.

“That presents an opportunity,” said one of the officials, who like others interviewed for this story, was granted anonymity to discuss sensitive operations matters.

U.S. military forces in the Middle East are “aware of malign actors who may seek to capitalize on conflicts and instability in the region,” said Maj. Geoffrey Carmichael, the spokesperson for the American military operation to counter ISIS in Syria and Iraq.

“We will not let nefarious actors pull us into engagements that detract from our mission,” Carmichael said. He did not mention Iran by name, but said: “Make no mistake, we reserve our inherent right to self-defense whenever faced with threats that place our forces in harm’s way.”

The U.S. military has stationed roughly 900 troops in Syria since the Trump administration, focused on countering ISIS terrorists with the Syrian Democratic Forces, which is the Syrian Kurdish militia.

And while the U.S. ended its combat mission in Iraq in 2021, about 2,500 U.S. troops remain in the country advising the Iraqi military. Iranian proxy groups have periodically attacked U.S. troops in both countries over the years, including in March.

Although he did not mention Iran by name, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned outside actors not to try to widen the conflict in a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday.

“For any country, or any organization, or anyone thinking about trying to take advantage of the agonies in Israel, to try to widen this conflict or try to steal more blood. We have just one word: Don’t,” Austin said.