A drone strike in Syria, not Jordan, resulted in the deaths of three US servicemembers. This incident marks the first American casualties from enemy action in the Middle East since the onset of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Jordan's spokesperson clarified that the deadly attack happened at Syria's Al-Tanf base, near the border, and not on Jordanian soil. This base houses US forces engaged in the multinational fight against terrorism.
The event escalates regional tension and stokes fears of escalating conflict with Iran. Hamas has warned that American support for Israel might antagonize the entire Muslim community if civilian casualties in Gaza persist, potentially sparking a wider regional crisis.
US President
Joe Biden has attributed the attack to extremist groups backed by Iran in Syria and Iraq and vows to pursue justice. He reiterates the US commitment to counterterrorism and plans to respond decisively.
Hamas cautions that continued US-Israel actions in Gaza could cause a massive reaction from Muslim nations according to a statement from their spokesperson, Sami Abu Zuhri.
The Pentagon reports over 150 attacks on US and allied forces in Iraq and Syria since mid-October, with the US launching retaliatory strikes. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iran-affiliated coalition, frequently claims attacks on US personnel in opposition to American support for Israel regarding Gaza.
An Iraqi resistance group has claimed drone strikes targeting US forces at multiple locations in Syria, including the attack that resulted in American deaths, amidst an escalatory backdrop of military tensions in the region.