Tower 22 drone attack
| Tower 22 drone attack | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan (2023–present) and spillover of the Israel–Hamas war | |||
| |||
| Belligerents | |||
 United States | Iran-backed militants (US claim) | ||
| Casualties and losses | |||
| None | ||
  Tower 22 Tower 22 in Jordan | |||
On 28 January 2024, American officials reported that three US soldiers were killed and many were wounded after a drone strike on a joint Dutch/[citation needed] US military outpost in Jordan.[1][2][3][4]
Background
US forces had been deployed in Jordan to "advise and assist" the country; Tower 22 is close to Al-Tanf Garrison in Syria, where US and local forces have been fighting the Islamic State.[5][6]
Prior to the attack US and coalition forces in the region had been targeted more than 158 times; these prior attacks had mostly been classified as minor due to the lack of serious injury or damage, although approximately 70 US and coalition soldiers had been wounded.[5][6]
Attack
Those killed were sleeping in tents when the site was struck by drones; it is unclear why air defences failed to shoot down the drones.[7][8]
The attack was the first incident in which US troops were killed by enemy fire since the beginning of the Israel–Hamas war, and mark a significant escalation.[8]
Responsibility
According to US officials, the drone was fired from Syria by Iran-backed militants; US President Joe Biden promised to "hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner our choosing".[8][9]
Reactions
Republican senators John Cornyn and Lindsey Graham called on the White House to directly target Iran in response to the attacks.[10]
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters that the attack was a message to the US administration that "unless the killing of innocents in Gaza stops, it must confront the entire nation."[11]
Jordanian state television quoted Muhannad Mubaidin, a government spokesman, as insisting the attack happened outside of the kingdom across the border in Syria.[12][13]
References
- ^ Miller, Zeke (28 January 2024). "Three Americans killed, 'many' wounded in drone attack by Iran-backed militia in Jordan, Biden says". AP News. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Gordon, Michael R. (28 January 2024). "Three U.S. Troops Killed in Drone Attack in Jordan". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Stewart, Phil; Holland, Steve; Ali, Idrees (28 January 2024). "Three US troops killed, up to 34 injured in Jordan drone strike linked to Iran". Reuters. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Three US troops killed in drone attack in Jordan". BBC News. 28 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Three US troops killed and 25 injured in drone strike by Iranian-backed militia in Jordan". Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ a b "3 US troops killed and more than 20 wounded in drone attack in Jordan, officials say". CNN. 28 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "Three US troops killed and 34 injured in drone attack in Jordan". Sky News. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ a b c Liebermann, Oren; Bertrand, Natasha; Britzky, Haley (28 January 2024). "First on CNN: Three US troops killed in drone attack in Jordan, at least two dozen injured". CNN. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "Three US troops killed and 25 injured in drone attack on US post in Jordan, Biden says attack carried out by Iran-backed militants". The Times of India. 28 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "Israel-Hamas war live updates: Negotiators make progress on hostage deal; Biden considers slowing weapons deliveries". NBC News. 28 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "Three US troops killed, up to 34 injured in Jordan drone strike linked to Iran". Reuters. 28 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ https://www.euronews.com/2024/01/28/three-americans-killed-many-wounded-in-drone-attack-by-iran-backed-militia-in-jordan
- ^ https://www.reuters.com/world/biden-says-three-us-service-members-killed-drone-attack-us-forces-jordan-2024-01-28/
