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Tower 22 base in Jordan (photo from October 2023)

Photo: Planet Labs PBC/AP

A deadly attack on US soldiers in Jordan is fueling new fears of a widening crisis in the Middle East. US President Joe Biden threatened retaliation after three US soldiers were killed in a drone strike in Jordan near the Syrian border on Sunday. “Have no doubt – we will hold all those responsible accountable, at a time and in a manner of our choosing,” Biden said.

Pro-Iranian fighters in Syria are said to be responsible for the drone attack on the small Tower 22 base in Jordan on the Syrian border, according to CNN. US Central Command said at least 34 soldiers were injured. It is unclear why the air defense could not intercept the drone, CNN said.

After the deadly attack, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron called on Iran to de-escalate. »We strongly condemn the attacks on US forces by militias allied with Iran. We continue to urge Iran to de-escalate the situation in the region," Cameron wrote on the X platform (formerly Twitter) on Monday night. The Iranian government, meanwhile, denied any responsibility for the attack, saying the claims had “political objectives.”

According to US media, it is the first time since the start of the Gaza war that US soldiers have been killed by an enemy attack in the Middle East. Because of the war, which began with the Islamist Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th, the security situation in the entire region is tense. The US has repeatedly emphasized that it fears that the conflict in the Middle East could escalate into a regional war.

There were initially conflicting reports about which US base in the border region was hit. Al Jazeera news channel quoted a Jordanian government official as saying the US base attacked was outside Jordan. Pro-Iranian militias in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attack and said they had attacked four US military bases, including three in Syria, on Sunday morning. Northeast Jordan borders both Syria and Iraq.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that US-led alliance forces shot down a drone belonging to pro-Iranian militias near Syria's border with Jordan and Iraq. They tried to attack the Al-Tanf military base used by US troops.

Repeated attacks on US posts in the region

Pro-Iranian militias have carried out more than 160 attacks on US military bases in Iraq and Syria since mid-October, injuring dozens of US soldiers. The Pentagon had emphasized in the past that attacks generally did not destroy any infrastructure. The USA responded to the attacks with several air strikes.

As of summer 2023, around 3,000 US soldiers were stationed in Jordan, as the “Axios” portal reported. Among other things, they support Jordan in the fight against the terrorist militia “Islamic State”.

President Biden emphasized that the USA stands together “in the fight against terrorism”. "It's a fight we won't give up." "Today the hearts of Americans are heavy," said Biden. “These military members embodied the best our nation has to offer: unwavering in their bravery. Undeterred in their duty. Unwavering in their commitment to our country.«

At a campaign appearance on Sunday afternoon (local time) in the state of South Carolina, Biden once again emphasized that the USA would respond to the attack. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said he was "indignant and deeply saddened."

jok/AFP/dpa