Three American soldiers were killed and 34 others were injured in a drone attack on a US military base known as Burj 22, located northeast of Jordan, near the border with Syria. The White House blamed Iran for the attack and promised a “very effective” response.
What do we know about the attack on Tower 22?
The attack occurred on Sunday and was recorded as the first time that American soldiers were killed by hostile fire in the region since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. According to a defense official, the drone came “too low and too slow” at the same time a US drone returned to the base from a mission.
The automatic response capabilities of the base's air defense system were turned off so that the American drone would not be shot down. This way, there was little warning to the troops stationed in Tower 22, who were apparently still in place when the enemy drone arrived.
Are American bases in the Middle East in danger?
The base targeted in the deadly attack is just one of more than a dozen bases where American military personnel operate throughout Iraq, Jordan and Syria. In recent months, these bases have been attacked by militias trained, funded and equipped by Iran.
There are about 3,000 American soldiers stationed in Jordan, a key US ally, and 2,500 soldiers in Iraq, where the Iraqi government has invited them to be part of the US-led coalition to prevent the return of the Islamic State jihadist group.
Who is the Islamic resistance in Iraq?
The armed group that claimed responsibility for the attack on Tower 22 is the Islamic Resistance in Iraq. The group emerged in late 2023, shortly after Israel's bombing of the Gaza Strip began in response to Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7.
How will the White House respond?
In response to the attack, President Joe Biden called these actions “despicable and completely unjust” and held Iranian-backed armed groups responsible. The president promised that he would “hold all officials accountable at the time and in the manner we choose.” Now all eyes are on the White House, which is under pressure to respond forcefully to the attack.
Mick Mulroy, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, told the BBC that he believed the United States should respond with “More power than we have used so farAccording to him, ““It's time to use force,” which is “the only thing they understand.”“. he added: “I believe that even targets inside Iran are being listed as options for the White House by the Pentagon.“
