WASHINGTON. The White House issued a stern commitment on Monday, promising a “very consequential response” to a drone attack on a base in Jordan that resulted in the tragic deaths of three American troops. President Joe Biden attributed the attack to Iran-backed militants, marking the first US military casualties in the region since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby clarified that while the casualties raised concerns about an escalating conflict, the United States is not actively seeking a broader war in the Middle East. Despite Iran denying involvement and refuting accusations from the US and Britain, President Biden asserted that the attack was carried out by “radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq.”
The response to the attack is anticipated to be “very consequential,” according to Kirby, emphasizing that the US is not pursuing a war with Iran and does not seek broader conflict in the Middle East. Kirby refrained from speculating on specific options, including the possibility of targeting locations inside Iran. He underscored Washington’s determination to convey that such attacks by Iran-backed militants are “unacceptable.”
Both President Biden and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron have placed blame on “Iran-aligned militia.” The UK urged Tehran to “de-escalate the region.” Iran dismissed any involvement in the attack, with foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani labeling the accusations as “baseless” and a “projection.” Kanani emphasized that Iran does not support an expanded conflict in the region and is not involved in the decisions of resistance groups.
With tensions already high in the region due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the drone strike raises concerns about further complicating the situation involving Tehran. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed three drone attacks in Syria on Sunday, including near the Jordanian border.
The escalating conflict in the Middle East presents a challenge for President Biden in an election year. Republican politicians have criticized him in the wake of the drone attack. US and allied forces in Iraq and Syria have faced over 150 attacks since mid-October, prompting retaliatory strikes by the US.
The latest phase of the Israel-Hamas conflict began on October 7, resulting in significant casualties. Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has led to thousands of deaths, mainly civilians, according to official figures. The repercussions of this campaign have sparked violence in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, with ongoing exchanges between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon. The United States and Britain have conducted strikes targeting Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels, who have been supporting Palestinians in Gaza.
The situation remains fluid, with the international community closely monitoring developments and the White House emphasizing a firm response to the drone attack on US troops in Jordan.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
