3 US service members killed, 30 wounded in drone strike near Jordan-Syria border

Three American service members killed and several others injured in a drone strike in northeast Jordan, near the Jordan-Syria border

In a statement on Sunday, President Joe Biden confirmed that three American service members lost their lives, and several others were wounded in a drone strike in northeast Jordan, near the border with Syria. President Biden attributed the attack to Iran-backed militia groups, marking the first U.S. fatalities in a series of strikes against American forces in the Middle East during months of escalating tensions.

The incident occurred on Saturday night and raised concerns about the increasing risk of escalation amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Jordan, a close American ally, has long been a basing point for U.S. troops, with approximately 3,000 American troops stationed in the country.

Jordan’s spokesperson stated that the attack targeted the Al-Tanf US military base in Syria. While the attack marks the first targeting of American troops in the country during the Israel-Hamas war, President Biden said “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 stated. He affirmed the United States’ commitment to combating terrorism and vowed to hold those responsible accountable “at a time and in a manner of our choosing.”

POTUS, briefed on the situation by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, and principal deputy national security adviser Jon Finer, emphasized that the U.S. would strike back in response to the drone attack.

“On January 28, three U.S. service members were killed, and 30 injured from a one-way attack (drone) that impacted at a base in northeast Jordan, near the Syria border,” stated the U.S. Central Command, marking the first time members of the U.S. forces died as a result of hostile fire during the Israel-Hamas war. The President’s statement echoed his commitment to holding those responsible accountable for the attack.

Source:  Newsroom