Three US service members were killed and at least 34 injured when a one-way attack Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) launched by Iran-backed militants struck military outpost Tower 22 in northeast Jordan, near the Syria border US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced.
In a statement, US President Joe Biden said that while an investigation into the attack remains underway, the US knows “it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq.”
He also warned of reprisals, adding “And have no doubt – we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner our choosing.”
US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin has said that he is “outraged and deeply saddened” by the deaths of three US service members and the wounding of several others in the attack. He says the troops were deployed to a site in north-eastern Jordan near the Syria border to work on combating the Islamic State.
He attributed the attack to “Iran-backed militias” and echoed President Biden’s stance that the United States will retaliate at a time and place of its choosing. Secretary Austin emphasized that any assault on American forces will not be tolerated, and all necessary measures will be taken to safeguard the United States, its troops, and its interests.
Since the commencement of the Israel-Hamas conflict on 7 October, US military installations in Iraq have been targeted by Iranian-backed militias over 60 times, while in Syria, the number of attacks has exceeded 90. These assaults have involved a combination of drones, rockets, mortars, and ballistic missiles. Notably, the recent attack on Sunday marked the first instance of US troops being targeted in Jordan during the Israel-Hamas war.
Jordan has condemned the targeting of US personnel near its border with Syria, calling it a “terrorist attack”.
