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3 US troops killed and more than 20 wounded in drone attack in Jordan, officials say
Three American service members were killed and at least two dozen were wounded in a drone attack overnight on a small US outpost in Jordan, US officials tell CNN, marking the first time US troops have been killed by enemy fire in the Middle East since the beginning of the Gaza war.
The killing of three Americans at Tower 22 in Jordan near the border with Syria is a significant escalation of an already-precarious situation in the Middle East. As of Friday there had been more than 158 attacks on US and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria, though officials have described the constant volley of drones, rockets and missiles as unsuccessful, as they have frequently not caused serious injury or damage to infrastructure.
It’s unclear why air defenses failed to intercept the drone, which appears to be the first known attack on Tower 22 since attacks on US and coalition forces began October 17. US forces at the outpost are there as part of an advise and assist mission with Jordan.
Three US service members killed in drone attack: CENTCOM
US reporters are citing the Pentagon as saying that 25 others were injured by the drone attack in northeast Jordan, near the Syrian border.
3 US service members were killed, 25 injured by a drone attack in northeast Jordan, near the Syrian border per CENTCOM pic.twitter.com/KwpNF4bJkx
— Margaret Brennan (@margbrennan) January 28, 2024
Biden: Iran-backed militant groups behind attack on US service members
The US president has said that the three service members were killed during an unmanned aerial drone attack on US forces stationed in northeast Jordan near the Syria border. “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,” he said, but did not cite any evidence.
It remains unclear who is behind the attack, but Iran-linked Iraqi groups have been targeting US forces in Iraq and Syria with drone attacks. Earlier today, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq – a coalition of Iran-aligned armed factions – said it attacked three US bases in Syria.
“Have no doubt — we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner our choosing,” Biden said.
Israeli military says it hit several Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon
The Israel Defense Forces says it has struck Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon with fighter jets and artillery Sunday. Hezbollah fighters also hit Israeli infantry on the Lebanese-Israeli border today, according to the Lebanese news agency NNA.
The fighting is among several key flashpoints in fears that the war in Gaza will continue spreading into a wider Middle East conflict.
