Biden says decided on response to attack on US base in Jordan
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US President Joe Biden claims that he does not want war in the Middle East as he pledges a "response" to the attack that killed three US soldiers in Jordan.
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President Joe Biden steps off Marine One before he boards Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, January 30, 2024 (AP)
US President Joe Biden revealed Tuesday that he had reached a decision on how to respond to the recent drone strike that killed three American troops in Jordan as part of the ongoing operations against US the US occupation forces in the region for its complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Despite pledging a response against what was claimed by his administration to be the Iraqi Resistance faction, Kataib Hezbollah, he emphasized his reluctance to escalate the situation into a broader conflict in the region.
Addressing reporters at the White House, President Biden placed blame on Iran for supplying the weapons used in the first fatal attack on a US military base since the start of the Israeli aggression on Gaza on October 7.
With the upcoming election adding pressure, Biden hinted at impending actions in response to the operation, though he refrained from disclosing the details of said response he pledged.
The White House issued a warning, stating that "multiple actions" were likely but offered no further information on the nature of the response.
While on the campaign trail in Florida, the 81-year-old president reiterated his commitment to avoiding a wider war in the region despite attacking Yemen, Syria, and Iraq within the span of a few days. When asked about the fear of exacerbating tensions with Iran, Biden affirmed that he was not seeking an escalation and emphasized his preference for a more measured approach.
"Yes," Biden responded when questioned about his decision on the response, but he chose not to disclose the specifics. "I don’t think we need a wider war in the Middle East. That’s not what I’m looking for," he added.
The Pentagon said the attack that killed three US soldiers and wounded more than 50 others in Jordan "carried the footprints" of Kataib Hezbollah.
"We don't seek war, but we will take action, and respond to attacks on our forces," Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said.
The Pentagon added that while it would not disclose the nature of the response to the operation that targeted the US forces, "We consider Iran responsible for them."
Nothing further was disclosed about the US attack, with Washington saying it would "respond at a time and place that suits us."
US President Joe Biden has blamed "radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq," likely referring to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which announced earlier this month that they would escalate their attacks after the US conducted several raids in Iraq and assassinated a military official in central Baghdad.
Biden also reaffirmed that the US forces are now "still gathering the facts of this attack," stressing, "We will carry on their commitment to fight terrorism. And have no doubt -- we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner our choosing."
