Iran has dismissed allegations of its involvement in a recent attack in Jordan that resulted in the deaths of three U.S. service members as “baseless.” Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani stated that regional “resistance groups” do not operate under orders from Iran. This statement comes in the wake of a drone attack near the Syrian border that killed three American service members and injured others.
The attack has led to calls from some U.S. politicians, including Republicans, for President Joe Biden to take stronger action against Iran. In a statement, President Biden indicated that the attack was executed by radical militant groups backed by Iran operating in Syria and Iraq.
Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) issued a forceful statement urging for decisive military retaliation against Iran’s terrorist forces, both within Iran and across the Middle East. Cotton’s statement criticized President Biden’s response, implying a lack of adequate action on his part.
The attack took place at a logistics support base known as Tower 22 of the Jordanian Defense Network, where approximately 350 U.S. Army and Air Force personnel are deployed to counter ISIS threats.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed militant groups, has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack. Iran’s Mission to the United Nations further stated that there is an ongoing conflict between U.S. forces and resistance groups in the region, which engage in retaliatory attacks.
In response to the attack, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin vowed to take all necessary actions to defend the United States, its troops, and interests. As of late Sunday, the number of injured service members had risen to 34, with at least eight requiring evacuation from Jordan for higher-level care, though they were reported to be in stable condition.
This incident marks a significant escalation in the months-long series of strikes against American forces across the Middle East since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.