Three U.S. service members were killed and dozens may be wounded after an unmanned aerial drone attack on U.S. forces stationed in North-Eastern Jordan near the Syrian border, President Joe Biden and U.S. officials said on Sunday.
President Biden blamed Iran backed groups for the attack.
This was the first deadly strike against the U.S. forces which could further destabilize the entire West-Asia.
Biden vows to respond
“While we are still gathering the facts of this attack, we know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq”, Biden said in a statement.
“Have no doubt – we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing”, Biden further added implying that the US President may take strict actions against the strike, further escalating the votality in the region.
According to the US central command, at least 34 personnel were injured but the numbers could change as more people are seeking care.
How did the strike unfold?
The drone struck the compound early morning as soldiers were sleeping in their barracks, hence the high number of casualties. US officials said.
Three bases were targeted including one on the Jordan-Syria border, the hard-line Iran backed Islamic resistance groups in Iraq have claimed the responsibility of these attacks.
Although the attack on U.S. forces is not a new phenomenon in the Middle-East, Iran backed groups in Iraq and Syria have attacked U.S. forces more than 150 times causing at least 70 casualties prior to Sunday’s attack.
The Houthis in Yemen have also targeted U.S. warships in the Red sea along with commercial ships passing through the region.
Shockwaves in Washington
As the elections are coming in the US, opponents of Biden have seized the opportunity and used the attack as evidence of the “Democratic president’s failure” to confront Iran.
“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,” said Republican Senator Tom Cotton.
“The time to start taking this aggression seriously was long before more brave Americans lost their lives,” said McConnell, U.S. senate Republican leader.
Sami Abu Zuhri, senior official Palestinian militant group Hamas, tied this attack to the ongoing war in Gaza.
What did Jordan say?
The attacks occurred at an “advance post” along its Syrian border, said the Jordanian government.
Amman asked Washington to deploy its Patriot air defense system to further secure its borders.
It has requested for more aid in order to tackle advance drone strikes and a raging billion dollar narcotics war along the border with pro-Iranian militants in Syria.
The kingdom has hundreds of U.S. trainers in the country and holds regular exercises with U.S. armed forces throughout the year.
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