Three US troops have been killed by a drone strike in northeast Jordan – marking their first attack in the Middle East since Israel launched its military operation against Iran-backed Hamas militants in Gaza, according to President Joe Biden’s statements. President Biden condemned their deaths as an “escalation”, promising forceful responses in response.
The attack took place near Rukban refugee camp, near Iraq where US special operations soldiers have been fighting ISIS. Additionally, it is nearby al-Tanf garrison where Iranian-backed militias have conducted repeated attacks with drones, rockets and mortars since October; several American service members have also been evaluated for potential traumatic brain injuries as a result of these attacks.
US officials told CNN that a drone was fired from within Syria, although its source remains unknown. Jordan, an ally of Western nations, has instituted air defense systems in an effort to deter attacks like these; Tower 22 in Jordan where about 350 Army and Air Force personnel are stationed is where this attack took place; according to Central Command approximately 350 US personnel were at Tower 22 when this took place – as per custom, however, no figures on how many Americans were at Tower 22 during its attack have been provided by the Pentagon as it pertains.
On Sunday at a campaign event in South Carolina, Biden requested a moment of silence in memory of those affected by the attack and blamed it on “radical Iran-backed terrorist groups.” Later he met with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Chairman of Joint Chiefs Gen. John F Kelly to discuss this incident further; Biden will meet again with them next week at their Washington headquarters to assess regional matters, according to an official at the White House.
Congress leaders on both sides are calling for tougher punishment against Iranian-backed militias in the Middle East. Republicans led by Mitch McConnell are encouraging President Biden to use all available US resources against “malign actors”, while Florida senator Rick Scott stated Iran was testing America’s resolve, calling for devastating military retaliation against any testing of our resolve by Iran.
Biden will brief his national security team about the attack before continuing on to South Carolina for his trip, according to an official at the White House. Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer will join him.
The three soldiers killed were members of the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, part of the 82nd Airborne Division. Their deaths occurred at a logistics support base providing various services including providing support to ISIS coalition coalition for its long-term defeat, according to Central Command. Their base has been operating in Iraq and Syria since December. As part of that coalition against ISIS, Central Command says over 4,000 US troops are stationed there alongside Kurdish forces working together; approximately 5,000 total US troops can be found throughout Middle East which covers Iraq Syria Lebanon West Bank Palestinian territories plus Saudi Arabian border regions.
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