Three U.S. troops lost their lives in a drone strike near the Jordan-Syria border, an area where Iran-backed militias have been launching numerous attacks on U.S. military bases in recent months, according to a statement released by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Sunday.
The incident occurred on Saturday night when an unmanned attack drone crashed into a Jordanian base, resulting in the deaths of the three service members and injuring 25 others. While CENTCOM confirmed that one of the Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq was responsible for the attack, the details surrounding the incident are still being investigated, as stated by the White House.
President Joe Biden expressed his condolences in a statement, stating, "Today, America's heart is heavy."
This attack marks a significant escalation, as it is the first time U.S. service members have been killed in these ongoing attacks. In a previous attack on December 25th, a service member was critically wounded and is currently recovering in the hospital.
CENTCOM has chosen to withhold the names of the fallen troops until their families have been notified, a process that typically takes place within 24 hours of the incident.
President Biden condemned the attack, describing it as "despicable and wholly unjust." He reassured the nation that the commitment to fight terrorism will continue and emphasized that those responsible for the attack will be held accountable, stating, "We will carry on their commitment to fight terrorism. And have no doubt - we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing."
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