Three members of the US military lost their lives, and many more were injured in a drone strike on a US base near the Jordan-Syria border.
President Joe Biden attributed the attack to “radical Iran-backed militant groups” and vowed a response.
This incident marks the first time US troops have been killed in the region since the October attack by Hamas on Israel.
Contrary to Jordan’s assertion that the strike occurred in Syria, not Jordan, the exact perpetrators remain unidentified.
President Biden emphasized that those responsible will be held accountable at a time and manner chosen by the United States.
The President briefed on the attack by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, expressed condolences, stating, “Jill and I join the families and friends of our fallen – and Americans across the country – in grieving the loss of these warriors in this despicable and wholly unjust attack.”
The names of the deceased and injured servicemen are yet to be disclosed as officials diligently work to inform their families.
President Biden, during a visit to South Carolina, acknowledged the tragedy, stating, “We had a tough day last night in the Middle East. We lost three brave souls.”
Reports indicate that at least 34 military personnel are undergoing evaluation for possible traumatic brain injuries, with some evacuated for additional treatment.
If confirmed, the drone targeted living quarters, potentially explaining the significant number of casualties.
US Central Command and President Biden identified the attacked base as Tower 22 in northeastern Jordan, near the Syrian border, despite Jordanian claims that it targeted the al-Tanf base in Syria.
This incident follows a series of attacks on US bases in the region, with no previous casualties reported by the US army. President Biden reiterated the commitment to holding the responsible parties accountable.
In a pre-recorded interview with ABC News, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen CQ Brown emphasized the US goal in the region: “The goal is to deter them, and we don’t want to go down a path of greater escalation that drives to a much broader conflict within the region.”
Amidst tensions, US and coalition troops in the Red Sea address attacks by Iran-backed Houthis targeting commercial ships.
The Houthis claim their actions support Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel is engaged in conflict with Hamas, a stance rejected by the US military.
The broader context includes previous airstrikes against Iran-affiliated groups and incidents involving Navy Seals off the coast of Somalia.
In January, two Seals went missing during an operation to seize Iranian-made weapons bound for Houthis in Yemen, presumed dead.