The weekend drone attack that killed three US service members in Jordan occurred when American air defenses confused the enemy aircraft with a friendly one coming in at the same time, a report said Monday.
The drone launched by Iran-backed militants approached a small US-allied outpost near Jordan’s border with Syria on Saturday night just as an American drone was returning to the base — causing confusion among staff there and a crucial delay in trying to shoot the enemy device down, unidentified military officials told the Wall Street Journal on Monday.
The terrorists’ drone struck soldiers’ living quarters, killing three American troops and leaving at least 34 others injured.
President Biden said the attack was launched by “radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iran” — and a Telegram channel used by pro-Iranian terrorist groups later claimed the assault was in retaliation for a US strike in the south of Baghdad a few days before in which two terrorists were killed, according to the Journal.
The perpetrators of Saturday’s attack were likely supported by Kataib Hezbollah, one of Iran’s main militia allies based in Iraq, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told CNN on Monday.
He said Biden would respond “in a time and manner of his own choosing” and “in a very consequential way.
“We don’t want to see these attacks continue. And we want to make it clear that they’re unacceptable,” Kirby said.
“We also want to make it clear that we’ll do what we have to do to protect our troops, our facilities, our national security interests in the region.
“But we don’t seek a war with Iran,” he said. “We’re not looking for a wider conflict in the Middle East.”
The president himself vowed Sunday to respond to the attack, which marked the first time American soldiers were killed by enemy fire in the Middle East since Hamas launched its Oct. 7 attack on Israel, prompting other militant groups to join in the fray.
Several Republicans have urged Biden to swiftly retaliate against Iran for the fatal attack.
“Hit Iran now. Hit them hard,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who is well-known for his hawkish views, wrote on X on Sunday.
“Iran is undeterred,” he said. “The only thing the Iranian regime understands is force. Until they pay a price with their infrastructure and their personnel, the attacks on U.S. troops will continue.”
Iranian officials have denied responsibility for the attack.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Monday called allegations that the country was involved “baseless accusations” designed to expand the Israel-Gaza war.
“The responsibility for the consequences of provoking allegations against Iran lies with those who bring up such baseless claims,” he said.
No specific group has claimed responsibility for the attack at the base, which is situated near Al Tanf Garrison in southeastern Syria, where US forces worked with allies to fight off Islamic State militants.
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Melissa Koenig
