3 US troops killed in Jordan drone strike

Iran denies involvement in attack; Biden vows response

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Three United States service members were killed and at least 34 others were wounded in a drone attack by Iran-backed militants on US troops in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border, US President Joe Biden and US officials said on Sunday.

It was the first deadly strike against US forces since the Israel-Hamas war erupted in October last year, and marked a major escalation in tensions that have engulfed the Middle East.

With an increasing risk of military escalation in the region, US officials were working to conclusively identify the precise group responsible for the attack, but they have assessed that one of several Iranian-backed groups was behind it.

“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,” Biden said in a statement.

“Have no doubt – we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing,” he said.

In a statement released yesterday and published by the state news agency IRNA, Iran’s mission to the United Nations asserted that Tehran 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.

“There is a conflict between US forces and resistance groups in the region, which reciprocate retaliatory attacks,” it added.

Biden, who was traveling in South Carolina, asked for a moment of silence during an appearance at a Baptist church’s banquet hall.

“We had a tough day last night in the Middle East. We lost three brave souls in an attack on one of our bases,” he said.

“We shall respond,” he added after the moment of silence.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin echoed that threat.

“We will take all necessary actions to defend the United States, our troops and our interests,” Austin said.