A drone attack targeted a base in Jordan, claiming the lives of three American soldiers on Sunday. President Joe Biden attributed the attack to Iran-backed militants and vowed to take action against the perpetrators.
This incident marks the first time American military personnel have been killed by hostile fire in the Middle East since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict. It has heightened tensions in the region and amplified concerns of a broader conflict involving Iran.
President Biden expressed in a statement, “Three US service members were killed — and many wounded — during an unmanned aerial drone attack on our forces stationed in northeast Jordan near the Syria border.”
He further stated, “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.”
Assuring a commitment to combat terrorism, he emphasized, “We will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing.”
The Pentagon revealed that US and allied forces in Iraq and Syria have faced over 150 attacks since mid-October, and the US has conducted retaliatory strikes in both countries.
Many of the assaults on US personnel have been claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iran-linked armed groups opposing US support for Israel in the Gaza conflict.
The recent escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict ensued from a surprise attack by the Palestinian militant group on October 7, resulting in approximately 1,140 deaths, predominantly civilians, as per an AFP tally of official figures.
In response, the United States swiftly provided military assistance to Israel, which initiated an extensive military offensive, causing the deaths of at least 26,422 people in Gaza, the majority being women and children, based on data from the Gaza health ministry.
These fatalities have triggered widespread outrage in the Middle East and fueled violence against American and Israeli interests in the region.
AFP
