Biden Vows Response After Drone Strike Kills 3 US Troops in Jordan

President Joe Biden has declared that the United States will retaliate following a drone strike in northeast Jordan near the Syrian border, which resulted in the death of three American troops and injuries to many others. Biden attributed the attack to Iran-backed militias, marking the first American fatalities in the region since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war.

While visiting a Baptist church banquet hall in South Carolina, Biden asked for a moment of silence for the lost soldiers, stating, “We had a tough day last night in the Middle East. We lost three brave souls in an attack on one of our bases,” and affirming, “and we shall respond.”

U.S. authorities are working to identify the specific group responsible for the attack, with indications pointing to one of several Iranian-backed groups. Biden’s written statement emphasized the U.S.’s commitment to holding the perpetrators accountable, while Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin assured that necessary actions will be taken to protect U.S. interests.

Following the attack, Iran-backed fighters in east Syria reportedly started evacuating their positions, anticipating possible U.S. airstrikes. Omar Abu Layla, a Europe-based activist and head of the Deir Ezzor 24 media outlet, noted that the fighters are leaving key strongholds such as Mayadeen and Boukamal.

CENTCOM reported that at least 34 U.S. troops were injured by the drone, with eight being airlifted out of Jordan for further medical care. The drone struck Tower 22, a logistics support base in Jordan used mainly for the U.S. mission to advise and assist Jordanian forces. Approximately 350 U.S. Army and Air Force personnel are stationed at this base.

The attack primarily impacted Army soldiers, as per various U.S. officials, who spoke under anonymity. The installation includes engineering, aviation, logistics, and security troops, with Austin stating they are deployed to contribute to the defeat of ISIS. The drone reportedly hit near the soldiers’ sleeping quarters, leading to the high number of casualties.

The nearby U.S. military base at al-Tanf in Syria, located just north of Tower 22, relies on this Jordanian installation as a logistical hub. The drone strike did not injure any Jordanian troops, and Jordan’s government has strongly condemned the attack.

With over 3,000 American troops usually stationed across Jordan, U.S. forces have frequently used the country as a base. The attack on Sunday was the first targeting American troops in Jordan during the Israel-Hamas war and the first to result in American deaths. Iranian-backed militias have launched numerous strikes on U.S. military installations in Iraq and Syria, with the objective of pushing U.S. forces out of the region.

Iran’s foreign ministry has rejected the U.S. accusation of Tehran’s involvement in the drone strike. Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani stated that Iran has no role in the decisions of resistance groups supporting the Palestinian nation or defending their people. He also warned of the consequences of such “provocative accusations.”

The U.S. has responded to attacks on its forces in the region by targeting locations in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen and aims to deter Iran-backed Houthi rebels from threatening commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

U.S. political figures have expressed their views on the situation. Sen. Jack Reed, the head of the Senate Armed Services Committee, expects a deliberate and proportional response from the Biden Administration. In contrast, Republican lawmakers argue for a more robust policy reset in the Middle East. Rep. Michael McCaul and Sen. Lindsay Graham suggest that stronger actions, including strikes within Iran, may be necessary for deterrence.

Biden was briefed on the situation by his national security team, including Defense Secretary Austin, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, and principal deputy national security adviser Jon Finer. He described the attack as “despicable and wholly unjust,” highlighting the commitment of the U.S. in the fight against terrorism.

Syria’s ongoing civil war and presence of Iranian-backed forces, including Hezbollah, add complexity to the regional dynamics. Jordan, a key Western ally, is suspected of conducting airstrikes in Syria to disrupt drug trafficking.

An umbrella group for Iran-backed factions, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, has claimed responsibility for attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Iraqi militia officials indicated that one of their groups was behind the Jordan base attack, although no official claim of responsibility has been made.

No other attacks on U.S. forces in the region were reported on Sunday.