Three U.S. service members were killed in an attack on a small outpost in northeast Jordan, leading U.S. officials to believe that an Iranian-backed militia group was responsible. The attack also resulted in at least 34 other service members being wounded. Eight of the wounded were medically evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and are now reported to be in stable condition.
The U.S. Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, expressed his outrage and sorrow over the deaths of the three brave service members and offered condolences to their families. He emphasized that the U.S. will not tolerate attacks on its forces and will take all necessary actions to defend its troops and national security.
While the U.S. points to an Iran-backed militia group as the perpetrator of the attack, Iran has denied any involvement. The specific group responsible is yet to be determined, but U.S. officials believe it may be associated with Khatib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed proxy. Over the past few months, there have been more than 150 attacks on U.S. and coalition bases carried out by Iranian-supported proxies, mostly resulting in minor injuries.
The recent attack in Jordan, however, marks the first time these groups have managed to achieve their intended goal of causing fatalities among U.S. servicemembers. U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stated that President Joe Biden is currently considering the appropriate response to such attacks. The President wants to make it clear that these attacks are unacceptable and that the U.S. will do what is necessary to protect its troops, facilities, and national security interests in the region.
The question now remains as to what form the response will take. Will the U.S. narrowly target the Iran-backed militias directly responsible for the attack, or will they opt for a broader action that includes targeting Iranian assets, as some Republican lawmakers have suggested?
The situation is being closely monitored, and the international community anxiously awaits the U.S. response to this provocative attack. As tensions escalate, the coming days will provide further insight into how the Biden administration will navigate this delicate situation and ensure the safety of U.S. troops in the region.
