US says 3 soldiers killed, dozens injured in drone attack in Jordan
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US President Joe Biden vows retaliation following the announcement that three US soldiers deployed in Jordan had been killed in a recent operation by the Resistance.
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Satellite photo of the attacked US base, Tower 22 (Google maps)
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Sunday evening that three US soldiers had been killed, while at least 25 have been injured in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border.
"On Jan. 28, three U.S. service members were killed and 25 injured from a one-way attack UAS that impacted at a base in northeast Jordan, near the Syria border," CENTCOM said before adding that the identity of those killed while deployed will not be revealed for 24 hours.
Later, citing a US official, Reuters reported that The number of US soldiers injured in the drone attack in north East Jordan has risen to 34.
🇺🇸‼️🚨 CENTCOM: 3 US soldiers killed and 25 injured.
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) January 28, 2024
The Iraqi resistance claimed to have attacked the Syrian side at the Jordanian border. CENTCOM says, the drone impacted on the Jordanian side.
Important takeaways is, the U.S. army is under attack daily and is taking… https://t.co/RFZncD7rbt pic.twitter.com/qjyVS6mGC7
In turn, US President Joe Biden had condemned the attack calling it "wholly unjust" reducing the event to the killing of US soldiers and making no mention of their duties overseas or the escalating tensions in the regions.
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.
The US President 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."
The Wall Street Journal, citing a US official, reported that The attack targeted a small military outpost in Jordan, which is Tower 22 near the Syrian border.
Citing a US military official, The Washington Post reported that The drone struck the living quarters at the base, causing injuries ranging from cuts, bruises, and brain injuries, some of which required medical evacuation.
On the other hand, CNN described the operation as "a major escalation," noting that it is not clear why the air defenses failed to intercept the drone, noting that as of Friday, there had been more than 158 attacks on US and US-led coalition forces in Iraq and Syria.
Iraqi Resistance announces 5 operations against US, Israeli forces
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq on Sunday claimed responsibility for five operations that took place in the region targeting the US forces in Syria and Iraq, as well as the Israeli occupation forces in occupied Palestine.
The Islamic Resistance declared that it conducted a series of drone attacks on five enemy positions in the region. Among these, three were aimed at US occupation bases situated in Syria, specifically targeting al-Shadadi, al-Rukban, and al-Tanf.
The fourth strike was directed at a base near Erbil Airport in the Iraqi Kurdistan region.
The fifth operation was executed on the "Zevelun" naval facility in occupied Palestine. The nature and extent of the damage caused by these drone strikes remain undisclosed.
Read more: Iraqi Resistance: US should withdraw all force, HMC plot to buy time
