Who is behind the attack that killed US troops in Jordan? How will Biden respond?

The fear of a wider conflict in West Asia continues to escalate. For weeks, efforts were being made to ensure that the Israel-Hamas conflict does not spread. But now a drone attack has killed three American servicemen and wounded more than 30 at an outpost in Jordan.

While US military installations in Iraq and Syria have been repeatedly attacked by Iran-back militias since mid-October, the overnight strikes led to the first deaths of troops killed by enemy fire since the war erupted. The US has in the past retaliated by striking targets in both countries. But the deaths put more pressure on US president Joe Biden, who has been accused of going “soft on Iran”.

What do we know about the strikes in Jordon?

Three US army soldiers were killed and more than 30 service personnel injured in a drone attack on a small US outpost in northeast Jordan near the Syrian border.

The large drone struck a logistics support base in Jordan known as Tower 22. It is along the Syrian border and is used largely by troops involved in the advise-and-assist mission for Jordanian forces, according to a report in The Associated Press (AP).

The US central command said approximately 350 US army and air force personnel were deployed to the base. The three who were killed and most of the wounded were army soldiers, according to several US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to give details not yet made public.

At least 34 troops were injured by the one-way attack drone, with eight flown out of Jordan for follow-up care. The central command described the eight as being in stable condition.

It’s unclear why air defences failed to intercept the drone, which appears to be the first known attack on the support base since attacks on US and coalition forces began on 17 October, reports CNN.

US troops long have used Jordan, a kingdom bordering Iraq, Israel, the Palestinian territory of the West Bank, Saudi Arabia and Syria, as a basing point. Some 3,000 American troops typically are stationed across the country.

Also read: How Iran is at the centre of escalating tensions in West Asia

Who is behind the attack?

An Iran-backed Iraqi resistance group claimed responsibility on Sunday for the attack.

The group, called Islamic Resistance of Iraq, stated that it launched an attack on the “Ash Shaddadi and Rukban bases in Syria, as well as the Zvulon naval facility in occupied Palestine, in response to the massacres committed by the Zionist entity (Israel) against our people in Gaza.” The group added that it will continue its attacks on the “strongholds of the enemies.”

The Islamic Resistance has claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks against bases housing US troops in Iraq and Syria since the Israel-Hamas war began.

What is the Islamic Resistance of Iraq?

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI) is a loose coalition of Iran-backed militant groups.

According to The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” is not a singular unit but rather an umbrella term used to tie the operations of various Iran-backed proxies in Iraq and Syria, reports Fox News.

An umbrella term obscures responsibility, making it more difficult to determine who is exactly responsible for attacks on US targets, the report says. It is believed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force plays a key role in organising the loose coalition.

Also read: Is a wider conflict in West Asia imminent?

“Iraqi armed groups tend to jealously guard their individual identities and the credit they derive (directly or via facade groups linked to them) from attacks, so their willingness to submerge these identities and even recant an individual group attack claim suggests that higher power is coordinating them,” the Washington Institute report says.

Many of the attacks claimed by the IRI have been published on the Telegram group called “al-Elam al Harbi” or “The War Media”.

Since the Israel-Hamas conflict began, Iraqi militias have attacked US bases in Iraq and Syria. The IRI has claimed responsibility for the drone attack on Harir Air Base in Iraqi Kurdistan on 17 October and 20 other attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria by 30 October.

The Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, a US-designated terrorist organisation in Iraq, has publicly affiliated itself with the IRI brand. Nujaba does not actively claim to control IRI, though it is likely some of the attacks claimed by this facade group were carried out by teams controlled by Nujaba, according to the Washington Institute.

Until 26 January, there had been more than 158 attacks on US and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria, reports CNN. However, officials have described the constant volley of drones, rockets, and missiles as unsuccessful because they have frequently not caused serious injury or damage to infrastructure.

What has the US said?

President Biden said on Sunday that the US “shall respond” after the death of American troops.

Biden, who was travelling in South Carolina, asked for a moment of silence during an appearance at a Baptist church’s banquet hall on Sunday. “We had a tough day last night in the Middle East. We lost three brave souls in an attack on one of our bases,” he said. After the moment of silence, Biden added, “and we shall respond.”

The president said in a written statement that the United States “will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner (of) our choosing.”

“Today, America’s heart is heavy. Last night, three U.S. service members were killed—and many wounded—during an unmanned aerial drone attack on our forces stationed in northeast Jordan near the Syria border,” he said.

“While we are still gathering the facts of this attack, we know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq,” the president added.

Last night, three U.S. service members were killed, and many wounded, during an unmanned aerial drone attack on our forces stationed in northeast Jordan near the Syria border.

Jill and I join the families and friends of our fallen in grieving the loss of these warriors in this…

— President Biden (@POTUS) January 28, 2024

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin said, “We will take all necessary actions to defend the United States, our troops, and our interests.”

With an increasing risk of military escalation in the region, US officials were working to conclusively identify the precise group responsible for the attack, but they have assessed that one of several Iranian-backed groups was behind it.

“This is a dangerous escalation. We’ve been trying to make sure this conflict doesn’t escalate. This pushes it much closer to that point,” Representative Adam Smith of Washington state, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said of the drone strikes in Jordan.

“It’s imperative the US respond and find a way to stop these attacks, and I know the president’s working on that.” Smith said the prospects of a widening war could not be separated from the situation in Gaza, according to CNN.

Washington and Tehran have avoided a direct confrontation despite the growing animosity. But now with the deaths of troops, critics are pressuring Biden to hit back.

Former president Donald Trump, who is likely to have a rematch with the incumbent president in the November general election, described the situation as a “consequence of Biden’s weakness and surrender.” “The drone attack on a US Military Installation in Jordan, killing 3 American service members, and wounding many more, marks a horrible day for America,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday.

Other Republican politicians demanded that the US should retaliate against Iran.

“Hit Iran now. Hit them hard,” wrote Senator Lindsey Graham on X. “When the Biden Administration says ‘don’t’, the Iranians ‘do’. The Biden Administration’s rhetoric is falling on deaf ears in Iran,” Graham said.

“Iran is undeterred…The only thing the Iranian regime understands is force. Until they pay a price with their infrastructure and their personnel, the attacks on US troops will continue,” he added.

Secretary Austin’s efforts to deter aggression against our forces in the region has failed miserably. I’ve long since lost confidence in the Biden national security team to deter Iran. If they do not change their policies now, more American service members in the region will pay…

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 28, 2024

“We need a major reset of our Middle East policy to protect our national security interests,” said Republican Representative Michael McCaul of Texas, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

With inputs from agencies