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The US Department of Defense has declared that there will be repercussions for the lethal drone strike on an American military base in Jordan, which resulted in the deaths of three soldiers over the weekend. This announcement came shortly after President Joe Biden informed the media that he had formulated a response plan to address the attack carried out by militias backed by Iran.
The US Air Force’s Major General Patrick Ryder, who serves as the press secretary for the Defense Department, informed the media that the loss of three army soldiers and the harm inflicted on several dozen others called for a retaliatory action from the United States.
“According to Maj Gen Ryder, three members of the US military lost their lives and over 40 were injured. These individuals were sent to the area to aid in maintaining regional safety and stability, while supporting the international coalition’s efforts to defeat Isis permanently. There will be repercussions for these actions, and I will not elaborate any further.”
Maj Gen Ryder was questioned about a reported message on the messaging app Telegram allegedly sent by Kata’ib Hezbollah, advising their fighters to avoid attacking US bases or personnel, even in retaliation to a US strike. In response, he stated that the Pentagon was aware of the message, but did not provide any additional details.
“We have reviewed those reports. I am unable to provide a specific response, but actions speak louder than words,” he stated.
On Tuesday, Joe Biden addressed the press at the White House.
The spokesperson for the Pentagon informed journalists that he would refrain from discussing specific plans for how the US will respond to the attack on Sunday. However, he did mention that both President Biden and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin have pledged to take action in a manner and timeframe that is determined by the US.
American officials have suggested that the drone evaded air defense systems due to being misidentified as a different aircraft belonging to the US and heading back to the base.
During the briefing on Tuesday, Major General Ryder discussed the drone attack and stated, “There are still many unanswered questions about the attack, including how the one-way attack drone was able to get past the facility’s air defenses, where it came from, and which Iranian proxy group is responsible.”
The United States has not explicitly stated which group is responsible for the attack. However, the president informed reporters that he believes Iran is accountable because they are providing weapons to those who carried out the attack. He did not confirm if US intelligence has determined a direct connection between Tehran and the attacks.
Major General Ryder reiterated Vice President Biden’s feelings during his statements to the reporters at the Pentagon. However, like Mr. Biden, he also chose not to assign the attack to a particular group.
We are aware that Iran-supported groups are accountable for the ongoing assaults on US military personnel. We will retaliate at a time and manner that we determine. Although we do not intend to increase tensions in the area, we will do whatever is necessary to safeguard our soldiers and installations for our benefit, he stated.
Following the drone strike, certain members of the Republican party have urged the US to retaliate by targeting areas within Iran’s borders. Meanwhile, officials from the Biden administration have been considering various options for response, such as targeting Iranian proxies or a naval vessel in the Persian Gulf.
However, President Biden expressed his desire to prevent the situation from escalating into a larger conflict in the region. He stated, “I do not believe that a broader war in the Middle East is necessary. That is not my intention.”
During the weekend, Mr. Biden assured a response from the United States regarding the tragic event, which is widely perceived as a deliberate effort by Tehran to heighten tensions and harm the US and its allies in the Middle East.
On Monday, spokesperson for the National Security Council, John Kirby, stated that the leaders in Tehran must take responsibility for the attacks. He also pointed out that the Iranian government continues to support militant groups that have been targeting US positions, ships, and international commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
A housing trailer on the remote US base, Tower 22, was hit by a drone strike, resulting in the deaths of three soldiers who were inside. The attack also injured over 40 others, with eight of them needing to be taken to a medical facility in Iraq.
On Monday, the Pentagon named the soldiers as Sgt William Jerome Rivers (46) from Carrollton, Georgia; Specialist Kennedy Ladon Sanders (24) from Waycross, Georgia; and Specialist Breonna Alexsondria Moffett (23) from Savannah, Georgia. They were all members of the 718th Engineer Company, 926th Engineer Battalion, 926th Engineer Brigade based in Fort Moore, Georgia.
Source: independent.co.uk
