Three U.S. troops have been killed and at least a dozen service members were wounded in a drone attack on an American military base in Jordan, according to multiple reports.
U.S. military officials said the aerial drone attack on American troops occurred overnight on the Tower 22 – a small military outpost in northeast Jordan, near the borders of Syria and Iraq.
U.S. Central Command – which oversees forces in the Middle East – said three service members were killed and 25 were injured from a “one-way attack” by an unmanned drone.
The names of the American casualties are being withheld for 24 hours after their next of kin have been notified.
The deaths marked the first fatalities of U.S. troops in the region since the Israel-Hamas war erupted.
President Joe Biden said in a statement, “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.”
Biden said America’s “heart is heavy” following the “loss of these warriors in this despicable and wholly unjust attack.”
“These service members embodied the very best of our nation: Unwavering in their bravery. Unflinching in their duty. Unbending in their commitment to our country— risking their own safety for the safety of their fellow Americans, and our allies and partners with whom we stand in the fight against terrorism. It is a fight we will not cease,” Biden declared.
“The three American service members we lost were patriots in the highest sense,” he continued. “And their ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten by our nation.”
President Biden added, “We will carry on their commitment to fight terrorism.”
Biden vowed, “And have no doubt — we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner our choosing.”
CNN reported, “As of Friday, there had been more than 158 attacks on U.S. 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.”
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