A drone attack on U.S. troops in Jordan, attributed to Iran-backed militia groups, resulted in three American fatalities and numerous injuries, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing Middle East conflict.
In a startling development, three American service members lost their lives, and many others were injured in a drone strike in northeast Jordan near the Syrian border. The attack, which President Joe Biden attributed to Iran-backed militia groups, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
“While we are still gathering the facts of this attack, we know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq. Have no doubt – we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner our choosing,” said President Biden in a statement.
This incident is the first instance of U.S. fatalities resulting from strikes against American forces across the Middle East by Iranian-backed militias in recent months. These strikes have been occurring amid the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, thereby increasing the risk of further escalation. U.S. officials are still working to conclusively identify the precise group responsible for the attack, but they have assessed that one of several Iranian-backed groups is likely to blame.
However, there is some dispute about the exact location of the attack. Jordanian state television quoted Muhannad Mubaidin, a government spokesman, as insisting the attack happened outside of the kingdom across the border in Syria. U.S. officials, on the other hand, insisted that the attack took place in Jordan.
U.S. troops have long used Jordan, a kingdom bordering Iraq, Israel, the Palestinian territory of the West Bank, Saudi Arabia, and Syria, as a basing point. U.S. Central Command reported that 25 service members were injured in the attack in addition to the three killed. Typically, around 3,000 American troops are stationed in Jordan.
Since the start of Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria have faced drone and missile attacks on their bases. The attack on Jordan marks the first targeting American troops in Jordan during the war and the first to result in the loss of American lives. Other attacks have left troops seriously injured, including with traumatic brain injuries.
ALSO READ | Historic International Court of Justice Ruling Puts Israel in the Spotlight Over Gaza Conflict
The U.S. has responded to these attacks by striking targets in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. These strikes aim to deter Iranian-backed Houthi rebels from continuing to threaten commercial shipping in the Red Sea and to respond to attacks on American forces in the region.
President Biden, who was in Columbia, South Carolina, on Sunday, was briefed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, and principal deputy national security adviser Jon Finer. He is expected to meet again with his national security team later Sunday.
“The three American service members we lost were patriots in the highest sense. And their ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten by our nation,” Biden added.
The president condemned the attack as a “despicable and wholly unjust attack” and praised the service members for “risking their own safety for the safety of their fellow Americans, and our allies and partners with whom we stand in the fight against terrorism.” He affirmed that it is a fight the U.S. will not cease.
The incident underscores the volatile situation in the Middle East, with Syria still in the midst of a civil war and serving as a launch pad for Iranian-backed forces, including the Lebanese militia Hezbollah. Iraq also has multiple Iranian-backed Shiite militias operating within its borders.
Jordan, a staunch Western ally and a crucial power in Jerusalem for its oversight of holy sites there, is suspected of launching airstrikes in Syria to disrupt drug smugglers, including one that killed nine people earlier this month.
An umbrella group for Iran-backed factions known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has claimed responsibility for launching explosive drone attacks targeting three areas in Syria, as well as one inside of “occupied Palestine.” The group has claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks against bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria since the Israel-Hamas war began.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the risks faced by American service members stationed in the region. As the situation continues to evolve, the international community will be watching closely for the U.S.’s next steps.