US Faces Threats from ‘Not Very Good’ Iran-Backed Militants, Says Reuters

By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali

WASHINGTON – More than a month prior to a tragic drone strike that claimed the lives of three U.S. soldiers in Jordan, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin aimed to reassure American troops regarding the military’s capacity to handle threats from Iran-backed militants.

During remarks made to sailors aboard the Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier on December 20, Austin stated that the primary reason these militants had not succeeded in their attacks thus far was their lack of effectiveness.

"Every day, Iranian proxies are shooting at our troops stationed in Iraq and Syria. They haven’t been successful for two reasons: Firstly, they’re not very good at what they do," Austin conveyed to the crew. "Secondly, we’ve implemented many measures to ensure adequate force protection. As we all understand, there may come a day when they get lucky and cause harm to one of our troops. However, we will remain vigilant to prevent that from happening."

Following the drone attack, the Biden administration has pledged to take all necessary steps to safeguard U.S. forces amid a rising tide of violence across the Middle East, where militias aligned with Iran are targeting American personnel in Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and regions off the coast of Yemen.

Nevertheless, current and former U.S. officials have expressed to news sources that the occasional success of these militants may be an inevitable consequence of the numerous drones, rockets, and missiles launched against American forces, as complete base defenses are infeasible to maintain at all times.

Experts warn against underestimating the capabilities of Iran-backed militants, despite most of their attempts being unsuccessful. Charles Lister from the Middle East Institute reflected on former President Barack Obama’s 2014 characterization of the Islamic State as a “junior varsity team,” even as the group was consolidating power. "To imply, as Obama did, that ‘they are just a J.V. team’ and that we can take these hits without serious consequence is exceedingly naive," Lister remarked. "These groups have orchestrated complex transnational attacks and have a historical record of inflicting serious harm on American forces."

U.S. commanders have a history of maintaining a brave façade for their troops. Austin, a retired four-star general who has served on the ground in Iraq and faced combat situations himself, continues this tradition.

In a response to inquiries, Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder indicated that Austin was outraged and deeply saddened by the deaths of the soldiers in Jordan, adding that there is "no higher priority than protecting our forces and taking care of our people."

TRAGIC, BUT PREDICTABLE

As of February 7, more than 168 attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan have occurred since tensions soared in October due to the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict. These assaults have resulted in injuries to 143 U.S. service members, including two with severe injuries and nine with serious injuries.

The most devastating incident took place on January 28 when a drone targeted the U.S. base known as Tower 22, located on the Jordan-Syria border, resulting in the deaths of Sergeant William Jerome Rivers, Specialist Kennedy Ladon Sanders, and Specialist Breonna Alexsondria Moffett.

One senior military official who spoke on the condition of anonymity labeled the attack as "tragic, unlucky – but predictable." They noted, "Combat is inherently chaotic and unpredictable, and achieving perfect defense is unrealistic."

General Daniel Hokanson, leader of the U.S. National Guard, which had troops stationed at the affected base, noted that the military diligently works to ensure effective defenses to minimize risks. "Sadly, no system can guarantee 100% security," Hokanson stated.

NOT A SOPHISTICATED STRIKE

Although a military investigation is ongoing, U.S. officials have suggested that several factors may have contributed to the failure of defenses at the remote base in Jordan. A significant point was the low altitude of the drone as it approached Tower 22.

However, officials noted that the militants did not appear to employ particularly sophisticated tactics during the attack. Some U.S. officials believe that the success of the January 28 strike was largely a matter of chance—overwhelming a well-defended target with sufficient munitions.

The assault, believed to be linked to the Iraq-based group Kataib Hezbollah, has prompted a series of retaliatory strikes by the U.S. in Iraq and Syria aimed at Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces and their affiliated militias, including a drone strike in Baghdad that recently killed a Kataib Hezbollah commander.

Ryder, the Pentagon spokesperson, stated that the military continues to "take necessary steps to safeguard our forces who serve in harm’s way" and is constantly reassessing force protection measures, although he did not disclose specifics due to operational security.

Critics of the Biden administration’s response suggest that retaliatory measures may not exert enough pressure on Tehran, which supports these militant groups and may have the ability to influence them to cease hostilities. Some Republican lawmakers have called for U.S. strikes against Iranian forces, including attacks on Iranian soil, a course of action the Biden administration has thus far resisted, wary of escalating into a broader conflict.

"Iran can stop these attacks if they choose to," remarked a former U.S. military official. However, the official added, "Why should they? They aren’t facing significant consequences from our response."