COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — President Joe Biden The United States stated Sunday it will “reply” afterwards. 3 American troopers killed Dozens extra injured in evening drone assault in northeast Jordan Near the Syrian border.Biden denounces Iran-backed militia It was the primary American loss of life for the reason that begin of the battle, following months of assaults by such teams on U.S. forces throughout the Middle East. israel-hamas battle.
Biden, who’s touring in South Carolina, referred to as for a second of silence throughout an look at a banquet corridor at a Baptist church.
“We had a tricky day final evening within the Middle East. We misplaced three courageous souls in an assault on one among our bases,” he stated. After a second of silence, Biden added, “And we are going to reply.”
and Increased threat of army escalation In the area, U.S. authorities had been working to conclusively establish the group liable for the assault, which they assessed was one among a number of Iranian-backed teams.
Biden stated in a written assertion that the United States “will maintain everybody accountable accountable directly, within the method we select.” Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated: “We will take all actions obligatory to guard America, our army, and our pursuits.”
Omar Abu Laila, a Europe-based activist and director of Deir Ezzor 24 Media, stated Iranian-backed fighters in japanese Syria started evacuating their positions fearing U.S. airstrikes. He informed The Associated Press that the world is the stronghold of Mayadeen and Bukamal.
U.S. Central Command stated no less than 34 troopers had been injured by the one-way drone assault, and eight of them had been flown from Jordan for remark. It was introduced that eight individuals had been in secure situation.
A big drone attacked a logistics help base in Jordan often known as Tower 22. The base is positioned alongside the Syrian border and is primarily utilized by forces concerned in advisory and help missions to the Jordanian army.
This satellite tv for pc photograph supplied by Planet Labs PBC exhibits the army base often known as Tower 22 in northeastern Jordan on October 12, 2023. On Sunday, January 28, 2024, three American troopers had been killed and “many” injured in a drone strike. President Joe Biden spoke about northeastern Jordan, close to the Syrian border. He blamed Iranian-backed militias for the primary American loss of life after months of assaults on American troops throughout the Middle East amid the Israel-Hamas battle. U.S. authorities recognized Tower 22 as the positioning of the assault. (Planet Labs PBC through AP)
Central Command introduced that roughly 350 U.S. Army and Air Force personnel had been deployed to the bottom. The three individuals killed and a lot of the injured had been Army troopers, in accordance with U.S. officers who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate particulars that haven’t but been made public.
Although not disclosed by Jordan, the small facility contains U.S. engineering, aviation, logistics and safety forces. Austin stated the troops had been deployed “to work for the lasting defeat of ISIS.” Three officers stated the drone struck close to the unit’s sleeping quarters, explaining the excessive variety of casualties.
The US army base in al-Tanf, Syria, is simply 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Tower 22. Jordanian services are necessary logistics hubs for U.S. forces in Syria, together with al-Tanf close to the border. Iraq, Syria, and Jordan intersect.
In a press release on Jordan’s state-run Petra information company, Jordan “condemned the terrorist assault” concentrating on U.S. forces. The report stated the drone assault focused “outposts on the Syrian border” and brought on no accidents to Jordanian forces.
“Jordan will proceed to fight terrorism and the smuggling of medicine and weapons throughout the Syrian border into Jordan, and stand agency in opposition to those that search to assault the safety of the Kingdom,” a press release from authorities spokesperson Muhanad Mubaiddin stated. stated. , Said.
U.S. forces have lengthy been based mostly in Jordan, which borders Iraq, Israel, the Palestinian territories of the West Bank, Saudi Arabia and Syria. Typically, about 3,000 American troops are stationed all through Jordan.
This is a location map of Jordan and its capital Amman. (AP photograph)
Since the battle in Gaza started on October 7, Iranian-backed militias have attacked U.S. army services in Iraq greater than 60 occasions and in Syria greater than 90 occasions, utilizing a mixture of drones, rockets, mortars, and ballistic missiles. It is carried out. Sunday’s assault was the primary to focus on U.S. forces in Jordan in the course of the Israel-Hamas battle, and the primary to end in lack of American life. The assault left quite a few U.S. army personnel injured, together with some who suffered traumatic mind accidents.
The militias say their assault is in retaliation for Washington’s help for Israel within the Gaza battle and is geared toward forcing American troops out of the world.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Monday dismissed US accusations that Tehran was behind the drone assault, in accordance with the state-run IRNA information company. “The Islamic Republic of Iran will not be concerned within the resistance group’s choices on how one can help the Palestinian state and defend its individuals,” the ministry quoted Nasser Qanani, a spokesman for the ministry, as saying.
Mr. Qanani stated that Iran is carefully monitoring developments within the area, and careworn that “the accountability for the implications of provocative accusations in opposition to Iran lies with those that increase baseless allegations.”
In current months, the United States has responded to assaults on U.S. forces within the area by placing targets in Iraq, Syria and Yemen to cease Iranian-backed Houthi rebels from persevering with to threaten business delivery within the Red Sea.
“I’m assured that the Biden administration will reply in a deliberate and proportionate method,” stated Sen. Jack Reed (DR.I.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Congressional Republicans stated the administration’s method has failed to discourage America’s adversaries within the area.
“We want a serious overhaul of Middle East coverage to guard our nationwide safety pursuits,” stated Republican Rep. Michael McCaul (Texas), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R.S.C., went additional, calling on the administration to “strike key targets inside Iran, not solely in retaliation for the killing of our troops, but additionally as a deterrent in opposition to future aggression.” ” The solely factor the Iranian regime understands is drive. ”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that Biden, who was visiting Columbia, South Carolina, on Sunday, spent the morning with Austin, nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan and chief nationwide safety adviser John Finer. He stated he acquired an evidence from an aide to the vice chairman. In the afternoon, he met just about with Vice President Kamala Harris and the nationwide safety workforce for an replace.
In a written assertion, the president referred to as it a “despicable and fully unjustified assault” and stated the service members “risked their very own security for the protection of their fellow countrymen and our allies and companions with whom we battle.” “It’s placing the protection of individuals in danger.” terrorism. It’s a battle we’ll by no means cease preventing. ”
Syria stays within the midst of a civil battle and has lengthy been a stronghold for Iranian-backed forces, together with the Lebanese militia Hezbollah. Several Iranian-backed Shiite militias additionally function in Iraq.
Jordan is a staunch ally of the West and a key drive overseeing the holy websites of Jerusalem. Suspected of launching airstrikes in Syria The goal is to destroy drug smugglers, together with the one who killed 9 individuals earlier this month.
The Iranian-backed umbrella group often known as the Islamic Resistance Movement of Iraq earlier claimed to have launched explosive drone assaults concentrating on three areas in Syria and one space in “occupied Palestine.” The group has claimed accountability for dozens of assaults on U.S. army bases in Iraq and Syria for the reason that begin of the Israel-Hamas battle.
Officials stated the U.S. army was not monitoring another assaults on U.S. forces within the space on Sunday.
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Baldor reported from Washington. Associated Press reporter Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran; Bassem Moulou and Abby Sewell in Beirut; Qasim Abdul Zahra in Baghdad. Omar Akour in Amman, Jordan, and Jon Gambrell in Jerusalem contributed to this report.