US troops killed in a drone attack in Jordan blamed on Iran-backed groups

Three American service members have been killed and dozens more wounded in a drone attack on troops in the Middle East, the US military has said. The attack, which took place in Jordan near the Syrian border on Sunday, was claimed by an umbrella organization of hardline Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq.

US President Joe Biden blamed Iran for the attack and vowed to hold the perpetrators accountable. He said the US "will carry on their commitment to fight terrorism"

The attack marks the first US fatalities in months of strikes against American forces across the Middle East by Iranian-backed militias, amid the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. It also raises the risk of escalation and confrontation between the US and Iran, which have been locked in a tense standoff over the 2015 nuclear deal.

The drone strike targeted a small US installation in Jordan known as Tower 22, which provides a critical logistical hub for US forces in Syria, including those at al-Tanf base. At least 34 personnel were being evaluated for possible traumatic brain injury, a US official told Reuters.

Iran-backed fighters in east Syria began evacuating their posts, fearing US airstrikes, according to a local activist. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which claimed the attack, also said it had targeted two other bases in Iraq.

The US has about 3,000 troops stationed in Jordan, a key ally in the region. Jordanian state television quoted a government spokesman as saying the attack happened across the border in Syria.

The attack comes as the US and its allies are trying to revive the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, which was abandoned by former President Donald Trump in 2018. The deal aimed to curb Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

However, the negotiations have been stalled by disagreements over restoring the deal and what steps Iran should take to comply with its obligations. Iran has been enriching uranium to higher levels and expanding its nuclear activities in response to the US withdrawal and sanctions.

The US and Israel have also accused Iran of supporting and arming militant groups across the Middle East, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthis in Yemen. Iran denies the allegations and says its nuclear program is peaceful.

The attack on US troops in Jordan adds to the challenges and uncertainties facing the Biden administration as it seeks to re-engage with Iran and restore stability in the region.

Sources

AP News: Biden says US ‘shall respond’ after drone strike by Iran-backed group kills 3 US troops in Jordan

Reuters: Three US troops killed, up to 34 injured in Jordan drone strike linked to Iran

Reuters: Reaction to drone strike on US troops in Jordan