US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has declared a commitment to take "all necessary actions" in response to an attack by Iran-backed militants that resulted in the death of three US troops and numerous injuries in a drone strike on a US base in Jordan.
Speaking at the Pentagon on Monday, Austin asserted, "The president and I will not tolerate attacks on US forces, and we will take all necessary actions to defend the US and our troops."
US officials, speaking to the Associated Press, indicated that the drone responsible for the attack might have been mistakenly identified as an American drone returning to the US installation, leading to the deadly strike.
The three troops killed in the attack were identified by the Pentagon as Army reservists Sgt William Jerome Rivers, Spc Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, and Spc Kennedy Sanders.
This incident marks the first lethal strike against US troops since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October, escalating tensions in the already volatile Middle East.
Qatar's Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al Thani, expressed hope that any US retaliation would not undermine progress towards a new Israel-Hamas hostage release deal discussed during weekend talks.
While there is optimism about the deal, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stating that "very important, productive work has been done," a senior Hamas official, Taher al-Nunu, emphasized the need for a "complete and comprehensive ceasefire."
The White House, through spokesperson John Kirby, conveyed that they are not seeking a broader conflict in the region but will do what is necessary to protect the US.
President Joe Biden faces the challenge of responding forcefully to the attack, holding Iran accountable, while avoiding further escalation in the ongoing Gaza conflict.
US Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator Lindsey Graham, have called for a robust response to the attack, viewing it as a test of Biden's strength.
Regarding the drone attack, preliminary accounts suggest confusion between the enemy drone and an American drone returning to the base, leading to no attempt to intercept the hostile drone.
The Biden administration attributes the attack to Iranian-based proxies, adding complexity to the Middle East situation as efforts are made to prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict from spreading into a broader regional crisis.
The targeted base, known as Tower 22, is situated near the demilitarized zone on the Jordan-Syria border, with the Iraqi border only 10km away. This incident highlights the challenges faced by the Biden administration in maintaining stability in the region.