American president Joe Biden said Sunday, January 28, that the US "shall respond" after three American troops were killed and dozens more were injured in an overnight drone strike in northeast Jordan near the Syrian border. Biden blamed Iran-backed militias for the first US fatalities after months of strikes by such groups against American forces across the Middle East amid the Israel-Hamas war.
Biden, who was traveling in South Carolina, asked for a moment of silence during an appearance at a Baptist church's banquet hall. "We had a tough day last night in the Middle East, and we shall respond," the president said before requesting silence.
With an increasing risk of military escalation in the region, US officials were working to conclusively identify the precise group responsible for the attack, but they have assessed that one of several Iranian-backed groups was behind it. Biden said in a written statement that the United States "will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner (of) our choosing." Defense secretary Lloyd Austin said, "We will take all necessary actions to defend the United States, our troops, and our interests."
Iran-backed fighters in east Syria began evacuating their posts, fearing US airstrikes, according to Omar Abu Layla, a Europe-based activist who heads the Deir Ezzor 24 media outlet, adding that the areas are the strongholds of Mayadeen and Boukamal.
A US official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not made public said a large drone struck the base, which two other American officials identified as an installation in Jordan known as Tower 22. It is along the Syrian border and is used largely by troops involved in the advise-and-assist mission for Jordanian forces. The small installation, which Jordan does not publicly disclose, includes US engineering, aviation, logistics, and security troops. Austin said the troops were deployed there "to work for the lasting defeat of ISIS." Three officials said the drone struck near the troops' sleeping quarters, which they said explained the high casualty count.