US pledges firm response to Jordan drone strike killing three troops
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Washington: The White House has issued a stern warning of a "very consequential response" following a drone attack on a base in Jordan that resulted in the deaths of three American troops.
President Joe Biden has attributed the attack to Iran-backed militants.
These casualties mark the first instance of U.S. military deaths in the region since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict, heightening concerns of an escalating conflict amid the ongoing strife in Gaza.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby emphasised that the U.S. response would be "very consequential" while clarifying that the intention is not to engage in a broader conflict in the Middle East. Iran, in turn, has denied any involvement in the attack, dismissing U.S. accusations of supporting the militant groups responsible for the strike, reported AFP.
Despite ongoing fact-finding efforts, President Biden asserted that the attack was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq. He pledged to hold all those responsible accountable at an appropriate time and manner.
While details about potential targets remain undisclosed, Kirby refrained from speculating on President Biden's considerations, including whether actions within Iran were being contemplated. The overarching message from the U.S. administration is to underscore the unacceptability of such attacks, particularly as part of a series of increasingly dangerous assaults by Iran-backed militants in the region.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron joined President Biden in attributing the attack to "Iran-aligned" militants and called on Tehran to de-escalate the situation in the region. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani rejected the accusations as "baseless" and stressed that Tehran is not involved in the decisions of the resistance groups.
The drone strike targeted the remote Tower 22 logistics support base in Jordan's northeast, resulting in the deaths of three American troops and injuring 34 personnel. This incident poses a significant challenge for President Biden, especially in an election year, with the Republican opposition quick to criticise his handling of the situation.
As the Middle East grapples with escalating conflicts, the U.S. administration faces complex geopolitical dynamics involving Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. The region experiences near-daily exchanges of fire, and the repercussions of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict extend to various nations, intensifying tensions across the Middle East.
