President Joe Biden has vowed that the United States “shall respond” after three American troops were killed in a drone attack on a base in Jordan. The President blamed Iran-backed militants for the attack and promised to hold the perpetrators accountable.
This incident marks the first time American military personnel have been killed by hostile fire in the Middle East since the start of Israel’s conflict with Iran-backed Hamas. President Biden stated that the attack was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq.
At a South Carolina church banquet center, President Biden reiterated his pledge of reprisals, stating, “We shall respond,” after holding a moment of silence for the US troops killed in the attack. The US Central Command reported that the number of wounded from the attack near the Syrian border was 25, and the identities of those killed will be withheld pending notification of their families.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri warned of a “regional explosion” in response to the attack, while US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed outrage and deep sadness over the deaths and injuries. Meanwhile, the Jordanian government spokesperson offered condolences to the United States for the victims of the attack.
The escalating conflict in the Middle East poses a challenge to President Biden in an election year, with various Republican politicians seeking to use the deadly attack for political gain. The conflict has seen over 150 attacks on US personnel in Iraq and Syria since mid-October, with many of the attacks claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an alliance of Iran-linked armed groups opposing US support for Israel in the Gaza conflict.
The latest round of the Israel-Hamas conflict began when the Palestinian militant group carried out a surprise attack, leading to a significant number of casualties. Following the attack, the United States rushed military aid to Israel, which has conducted a relentless military offensive in Gaza.
The ongoing violence has sparked anger across the region and fueled confrontations involving Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. In response to attacks on shipping by Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels, the United States and Britain have carried out joint strikes, while American forces have conducted unilateral air raids against the rebels.
The growing violence in multiple parts of the Middle East has raised fears of a broader regional conflict directly involving Iran, a scenario that Washington is hoping to avoid.
