First deadly strike against US troops since flare-up
WASHINGTON — Three US service members were killed and at least 34 wounded in a drone attack by militants on US troops in Jordan, said US President Joe Biden and US officials on Sunday, the first deadly strike against US forces since the Gaza conflict erupted.
The attack marks an escalation in tensions that have engulfed the Middle East, amid concerns Israel’s military campaign against Hamas militants could spread into a wider conflict, Reuters reported.
At least 34 personnel were injured in the attack, but that number is expected to change as more people seek care, according to a statement from the United States Central Command. Eight personnel were evacuated from Jordan for higher-level care, but are in stable condition.
Biden said in a statement that his administration was still gathering facts about the attack. Biden said the United States “will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner (of) our choosing”.
Nonetheless, Biden attributed the attack to Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq.
Iran has denied any link. Iran’s mission to the United Nations said in a statement on Monday that Teheran was not involved in the attack.
“Iran had no connection and had nothing to do with the attack on the US base,” the mission said in a statement published by the state news agency IRNA.
It added: “There is a conflict between US forces and resistance groups in the region, which reciprocate retaliatory attacks.”
The US military said the attack occurred at a base in northeastern Jordan, near the Syrian border.
The Jordanian government said the attack occurred at an “advanced post” along its border with Syria.
US troops in Syria and Iraq have frequently come under attack since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct 7. US retaliatory strikes against militant groups in the region have so far failed to deter them.
Since then, US forces have come under attack more than 150 times by militant groups in Iraq and Syria, causing at least 70 casualties.
Warships targeted
US warships have also been fired at by Houthi forces in Yemen, who are regularly attacking commercial ships passing through Red Sea waters off Yemen’s coast.
Yemen’s Houthi group on Monday said they have launched a missile attack on a US military ship in the Gulf of Aden.
The Houthis said they had targeted the USS Lewis B. Puller, an expeditionary mobile base vessel.
“One of the ship’s missions is to provide logistical support to the American forces involved in aggression against our country,” Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a statement.
He said the Houthis would continue to attack Israeli ships or those heading to Israel until Israel ended its blockade on the Gaza Strip.
The US military did not immediately comment.
The US and the United Kingdom have carried out several retaliatory airstrikes on Houthi positions in recent weeks aimed at preventing further attacks on shipping and protecting global trade.