Three American soldiers were killed and 25 soldiers were injured in a drone attack on a small US army post in northeastern Jordan. This was reported by the American command center in the region, Centcom.
It was the first time that US troops have been killed by enemy fire in the Middle East since the start of the war in Gaza. Jordan partly contradicts the report, stating that the attack allegedly took place on Syrian territory.
The White House said the attack was carried out by “radical Iranian-backed militant groups active in Syria and Iraq,” without naming any group or movement. Responsibility for the attack has not yet been claimed. In the statement, President Joe Biden said the United States will not let the attack go unanswered: “And make no doubt: we will hold all those responsible accountable at a time and in a manner of our choosing.”
Make no doubt: we will hold all those responsible accountable at a time and in a manner of our choosing
Air defense
It is unclear why air defenses failed to intercept the drone. US troops are in northeastern Jordan as part of an “advisory and support mission” with Jordan, according to CNN.
There were more than 158 attacks on US and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria on Friday. However, according to US officials, those attacks did not cause serious injuries or damage to infrastructure, CNN reports.
In a previously recorded interview with ABC News that aired Sunday morning, top U.S. General Charles Brown said a key role of the military is to ensure the conflict in Gaza does not expand into a larger war in the Middle East. “The aim is to deter militants. We do not want to embark on a path of greater escalation that leads to a much broader conflict within the region.”
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