Iraqi and Jordanian Foreign Ministers Discuss U.S. Outpost Attack in Jordan – Reuters

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, during a phone conversation with his Jordanian counterpart on Tuesday, condemned an attack on a U.S. military outpost located on Jordanian soil near the border with Syria, according to state media reports.

Hussein and Ayman Safadi emphasized the importance of keeping both nations and the surrounding region free from military threats from any party, as noted by Iraqi state media.

Since the conflict between Hamas and Israel began on October 7, groups aligned with Iran have launched attacks on Israeli and U.S. targets from various locations, including Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, and Syria.

On Sunday, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which is an alliance of hardline Iran-backed militant factions, claimed responsibility for assaults on three bases, one of which is situated near the border between northeastern Jordan and eastern Syria. This attack resulted in the deaths of three U.S. soldiers and injuries to over 40 others, representing the first deadly strike against U.S. forces since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war, thereby marking a significant escalation in regional tensions.

While Iraq’s government has support from parties and militias associated with Iran, it does not have direct backing from the hardline groups targeting U.S. forces, according to Western and Iraqi officials. Baghdad has denounced these attacks but has also indicated that regional tensions may persist as long as the conflict in Gaza continues.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated on Monday that the U.S. would take “all necessary actions” to safeguard its troops following the lethal drone strike, even as the administration of President Joe Biden maintained that it does not seek to engage in a war with Iran.