Three U.S. Soldiers Killed in Pro-Iran Militia Drone Attack... Middle East Escalation Risk Heightens

President Biden "Will Hold Accountable"
Expect Growing Public Support for Tough Stance on Iran

Since the war between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas began, attacks targeting U.S. military personnel stationed in the Middle East have continued, resulting in the deaths of three U.S. soldiers in a drone attack by a pro-Iran armed group. This marks the first time U.S. troops have died in the Middle East since the war between Israel and Hamas started in October last year. The U.S. government has so far been cautious about escalating the conflict in the region, but this incident is expected to increase pressure to take a tougher stance against Iran.

On the 28th (local time), U.S. President Joe Biden stated in a press release that three U.S. soldiers stationed in northeastern Jordan were killed and many others injured in a drone attack the previous night. Initially, the U.S. Central Command announced that 25 people were injured, but it is now reported that at least 34 individuals are being monitored for traumatic brain injuries.

President Biden said, "We know that Iran-backed extremist militias operating in Syria and Iraq carried out this attack," and warned, "The United States will hold all those responsible for this attack accountable at a time and in a manner of our choosing." He added, "We will not stop fighting terrorism," emphasizing, "We will carry on the belief of those (fallen soldiers) who fought against terrorism."

However, the Jordanian government stated that the attack targeted the Al-Tanf U.S. military base in Syria, and the deceased U.S. soldiers were in Syria, not Jordan.

Since Hamas's surprise attack on Israel in October last year, pro-Iran armed groups in Syria and Iraq have continuously targeted U.S. forces stationed in the Middle East. So far, pro-Iran groups have carried out a total of 158 attacks against the U.S. and its allies, causing many injuries among U.S. troops, but this is the first time fatalities have occurred. Although the U.S. declared the end of the war on terror in 2021, it has maintained forces in Iraq and Syria to continue counterterrorism operations.

On the morning of the same day, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Charles Q. Brown warned in an interview with ABC News, "The United States does not want the conflict in the Middle East to spread," adding, "The goal is to deter them, and we do not want to walk down the path leading to a much broader conflict in the Middle East."

Within the United States, public opinion is expected to rise, calling for a tougher response to Iran, as the Biden administration has so far been cautious about direct confrontation with Iran.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham stated, "The Biden administration's efforts to deter Iran-linked attacks have failed," and said, "We must attack Iran immediately. We need to hit them hard."

The U.S. daily The Washington Post reported, "As attacks on U.S. forces surged to about 160 incidents, the Department of Defense carried out selective retaliatory strikes against Iranian proxy forces stationed in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, but these measures failed to deter those committing violence," adding, "Critics of the president are demanding more aggressive response measures."