Three American troops were killed in a drone strike in Jordan overnight.
The military service members were in northeast Jordan, near the country’s border with Syria, when they were killed, according to the White House.
“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,” President Biden said in a statement Sunday. “The three American service members we lost were patriots in the highest sense. And their ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten by our nation.”
“Many” Americans were injured in the attack, Biden said. CNN reported that 25 U.S. troops were wounded. The victims have not been publicly identified, and the government did not say exactly what they were doing in northeastern Jordan.
Jordanian officials insisted that the attack occurred in Syria. The U.S. military said it occurred in Jordan.
The U.S. has ramped up its military presence in the Middle East in response to the latest Israel-Hamas war and attacks on ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Saturday night’s attack was the first time U.S. troops have been killed since the conflict began.
“We will strive to be worthy of their honor and valor. We will carry on their commitment to fight terrorism,” Biden said. “And have no doubt — we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing.”
In Jordan, most American troops are reportedly stationed at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base. The attack occurred at Tower 22, a small outpost on the very northeast corner of Jordan, according to the Wall Street Journal. The installation is near Al-Tanf garrison in Syria, where U.S. troops are based in the fight against ISIS.
Around 3,000 American service members are typically stationed in Jordan, and the kingdom is a strategic ally for the U.S. in the region.
Syria, on the other hand, has been mired in civil war for more than a decade. Various militia groups supported by Iran have taken advantage of the chaos and operate there.
The U.S. has stepped up its military response in the Middle East in recent months. It began by confronting Yemen’s Houthi rebels at sea but reached another level in mid-January with airstrikes in Yemen. The Houthis are also backed by Iran.
With News Wire Services
