President Joe Biden has confirmed that he has made a decision regarding the response to the recent drone attack that resulted in the death of three U.S. troops in Jordan. When questioned by reporters while leaving the White House on Tuesday, the president affirmed that he has indeed finalized his response, although he did not provide further details.
Biden attributed responsibility for the attack to Iran, stating that they are responsible “in the sense that they’re supplying the weapons to the people who did it.” However, he emphasized that he is not seeking a broader conflict in the Middle East.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has claimed responsibility for various drone strikes in Syria and Jordan, but it remains unclear whether this group was behind the attack on U.S. troops in Jordan.
Biden Decides on Course of Action in Response to Loss of U.S. Forces in Jordan (Credits: Reuters)
According to U.S. Central Command, the drone strike targeted a U.S. logistics support base at Tower 22 of the Jordanian Defense Network in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border, where approximately 350 U.S. troops are stationed to support coalition forces combating the Islamic State.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested that the response to the attack could be “multileveled” and “come in stages and be sustained over time.”
President Biden, who met with his national security team on Monday, has vowed to respond to the attack “in a time and manner of our choosing.” While specific options were not disclosed, targeting Iranian personnel in Syria or Iraq and striking Iranian naval assets were reportedly under consideration.
U.S. troops have faced over 160 attacks from Iranian-backed groups since October. In the wake of the recent attack, some Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senator Lindsey Graham, have called for a more assertive response from the Biden administration to send a clear message against attacks on U.S. troops.
