The explanation of how the enemy drone evaded US air defenses came as the White House said it was not looking for war with Iran even as Biden pledged to take retaliatory measures. The administration believes that Tehran was behind the strike.
Biden met with national security advisors in the White House Situation Room to discuss the latest developments and possible retaliation.
“There is no easy answer here,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. He added: “That is why the president is meeting with his national security team to study the options available to him.”
The brazen attack, which the Biden administration blames on proxies based in Iran, adds another layer of complexity to an already tense situation in the Middle East as the Biden administration tries to prevent the war between Israel and Hamas from expanding into a broader regional conflict.
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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during his meeting at the Pentagon with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: “The President and I will not tolerate attacks on American forces, and we will take all necessary measures to defend the United States and our forces.”
This drone attack was one of dozens of attacks on US forces in the Middle East since Hamas launched attacks on Israel on October 7, igniting the war in Gaza. But it is the first time that American service members have been killed.
Biden promised to “hold all officials accountable at a time and in the manner we choose,” but said the United States was not seeking to enter into another conflict in the Middle East.
Kirby also made clear that American patience had run out after more than two months of attacks by Iranian proxies on American forces in Iraq, Syria and Jordan and on the US Navy and commercial ships in the Red Sea. Proxy groups, including Houthi rebels in Yemen and Kataib Hezbollah based in Iraq, say the attacks are in response to ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza.
Kirby told reporters: “We are not seeking war with Iran.” “However, this was an extremely serious attack. It had deadly consequences. We will respond, and we will respond appropriately.”
Iran denied being behind the attack on Jordan.
'[The drone attack is] It is another horrific and tragic consequence of Joe Biden's weakness and resignation.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump
The Iranian Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani as saying: “These allegations have specific political goals to reflect the realities of the region.” Iran regularly denies involvement in associated attacks through the militias it arms across the Middle East.
Kirby said that US officials are still working to identify the armed group behind the attack. He pointed out that Iran has long equipped and trained militias.
Republicans blamed Biden for doing little to deter Iranian militias, which have carried out nearly 165 attacks on US forces in the region since the start of the war.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump called the attack “another horrific and tragic consequence of Joe Biden’s weakness and surrender.”
The attack hit a US military desert site in far northeastern Jordan known as Tower 22. The site is located near the demilitarized zone on the Jordanian-Syrian border along a bulldozed sand berm that marks the southern edge of the demilitarized zone. The Iraqi border is only 10 kilometers away.
AP
