Three American soldiers were killed on Saturday evening in a drone strike in northeastern Jordan, near the border with Syria, President Joe Biden confirmed this Sunday. About twenty soldiers were also injured in the attack, which Washington attributed to “Iran-backed radical militant groups in Syria and Iraq.” These are the first US military casualties since the start of Israel's war in Gaza.
It is not clear what went wrong with the air defense of the Torre 22 base the United States maintains in Jordan that failed to intercept the drone, one of many that have sought a similar target in recent months. As of Friday, the Pentagon had counted more than 158 attacks against US and coalition troops in Iraq and Syria. This “constant bombardment with drones, rockets and missiles” has so far been unsuccessful. They hadn't even caused any damage to the infrastructure.
This time it was different and the incident could lead to an escalation of the conflict in the region, which the Pentagon has been trying to prevent for weeks.
“Today, America’s heart is heavy,” Biden said in a statement. “The three American soldiers we lost were patriots in the highest sense. And our nation will never forget his ultimate sacrifice. Together we will fulfill our sacred obligation to your families. We will strive to be worthy of your honor and bravery. We will continue our commitment to the fight against terrorism. And rest assured, we will hold those responsible accountable whenever and however we deem appropriate.”
“[La primera dama] “Jill and I join the families and friends of our fallen (and Americans across the country) in mourning the loss of these warriors in this despicable and completely unjust attack,” the text released by the White House said. “These service members embodied the best of our nation: unwavering in their courage. Unwavering in their duty. They remain steadfast in their commitment to our country, risking their own safety for the safety of their fellow Americans and our allies and partners with whom we work in the fight against terrorism. It’s a fight we won’t stop.”
[Noticia de última hora. Habrá actualización en breve].
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