Biden vows response at time ‘of our choosing’ after three US troops killed in Jordan drone attack
Iranian backed militia took credit for attack that injured 34 troops and killed first US soldiers since start of Gaza conflict
The spectre of a direct US-Iranian military conflict drew closer on Sunday when the US president Joe Biden announced three US servicemen had been killed and more than 34 injured following a drone attack on a US service base on the border of Jordan and Syria. Biden blamed Iranian-backed militia mainly based in Iraq for the “despicable” attack and vowed revenge.
Responsibility for Saturday’s attack on Tower 22, a military outpost on the Jordanian Syrian Iraqi borders was claimed by the Iranian backed umbrella group Islamic Resistance, and the US made no attempt to disguise its belief that Iran was ultimately responsible.
In a statement published by the state news agency IRNA early on Monday, Iran’s mission to the UN denied Tehran had any involvement in the attack.
“Iran had no connection and had nothing to do with the attack on the US base,” the mission said, adding: “There is a conflict between US forces and resistance groups in the region, which reciprocate retaliatory attacks.”
Four separate drone strikes had been fired at three US bases, and the US was investigating why the T-22 base’s defence mechanism did not repel the drone. Many of the American servicemen wounded have suffered traumatic brain injury. An official said the drone struck near the barracks early in the morning, which would explain the high number of casualties.
US forces have faced a near-daily barrage of drone and missile strikes in Iraq and Syria since the 7 October attack on Israel by Hamas, but this incident draws the US much closer to a direct conflict with Iran, an outcome both sides insist they wish to avoid, but may now be unable to prevent as the incidents proliferate and escalate in impact.
The only time the question of why US troops are actually in these foreign countries is this lubricated spin:
The US says its 900 troops in Syria are working alongside Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces to defeat Islamic State, the extremist Sunni group. It has about 4,000 troops in Jordan.
Also, the figures don't take into account contractors; something else not mentioned.
Worrying stuff though. Wouldn't put it beyond the apartheid state to false flag that attack to stir the US into open conflict with Iran. Would certainly take the cameras away from them for a while....no amount of cajolery, and no attempts at ethical or social seduction, can eradicate from my heart a deep burning hatred for the Tory Party...So far as I am concerned they are lower than vermin.
Re: First rumblings of wider war? More escalation - but hey, we'll get prepared for WW3...
If we need to prepare for a Third World War, the Swedes and Finns are way ahead of us
Literally they are, Finland first, then Sweden, then Norway and the Baltic States and then East Anglia I presume. The Anglo Saxons all over agin only this time the Russians
At least the Russians drink tea.
We can then have a conversation with the Russians say in Norwich, though I can't help think that having a conversation with the Russians now, rather than threatening WW3, might save us all a lot of trouble. But obviously I'm not with modern strategic thinking.