Three US Soldiers Killed in Jordan Drone Strike Tied to Iran, Reports Reuters

By Phil Stewart, Steve Holland, and Idrees Ali

WASHINGTON – Three U.S. service members were killed and at least 34 others were wounded in a drone attack by Iran-backed militants targeting U.S. troops in northeastern Jordan, close to the Syrian border, President Joe Biden and U.S. officials confirmed on Sunday.

This incident marks the first lethal strike against U.S. forces since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October and signifies a significant escalation of tensions throughout the Middle East.

"We are still gathering details about this attack, but we know it was carried out by radical groups backed by Iran, operating in Syria and Iraq," Biden stated. "We will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing."

Iran’s mission to the United Nations issued a statement on Monday denying involvement in the attack, claiming, "Iran had no connection and had nothing to do with the attack on the U.S. base." The statement further noted, "There is a conflict between U.S. forces and resistance groups in the region, which respond to retaliatory attacks."

During a campaign event in South Carolina, Biden observed a moment of silence for the fallen service members and asserted, "We shall respond." This sentiment was echoed by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who cited the threat of retaliation following the briefing he and other senior officials provided to the President earlier in the day.

The attack resulted in injuries to at least 34 personnel, a number that may rise as more individuals seek medical attention. U.S. Central Command reported that eight service members were evacuated from Jordan for higher-level care, but they are currently stable. Two U.S. officials indicated that the drone struck near the barracks early in the morning, which likely contributed to the high casualty count.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of hardline militias supported by Iran, claimed responsibility for assaults on three military bases, including one situated along the Jordan-Syria border.

This incident could escalate concerns about a wider conflict in the Middle East, which has already been beleaguered by violence following the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals. In retaliation, over 26,000 Palestinians have been reported killed due to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

In the wake of these events, U.S. forces have faced over 150 attacks from Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria since the beginning of the Hamas-Israel war, resulting in around 70 casualties, primarily from traumatic brain injuries. U.S. warships have also come under assault from Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen, who continue to target commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

Although the U.S. has officially maintained that it is not at war in the region, it has retaliated against Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria and conducted operations targeting Houthi military capabilities.

REPUBLICAN CRITICISM OF BIDEN

Republican leaders have leveraged this attack to critique Biden’s approach to Iran and its affiliates. Senator Tom Cotton stated, "The only answer to these attacks must be devastating military retaliation against Iran’s terrorist forces… Anything less will confirm Joe Biden as a coward." Additionally, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell argued that Biden’s perceived inaction has emboldened U.S. adversaries in the Middle East, claiming, "The time to start taking this aggression seriously was long before more brave Americans lost their lives."

A spokesperson from the Iran-backed militant group Hamas, Sami Abu Zuhri, linked the drone attack to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, asserting, "The killing of three American soldiers is a message to the U.S. administration that unless the killing of innocents in Gaza stops, it must confront the entire nation."

U.S. military officials confirmed that the attack took place at a base in northeastern Jordan, near the Syrian border, though they did not specify the name of the base. A source familiar with the operations identified it as Tower 22. U.S. military presence in Jordan is sensitive, particularly due to heightened fears regarding the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The Jordanian government acknowledged the attack occurred at an "advanced post" along its border with Syria. Last year, Jordan requested the deployment of Patriot air defense systems from the U.S. to enhance border security, amid concerns related to the conflict spilling over.

Jordan also seeks additional support to combat drone threats linked to ongoing drug trafficking issues attributed to pro-Iranian militias in southern Syria. The kingdom hosts hundreds of U.S. trainers and regularly conducts military exercises in collaboration with U.S. forces.