On Jan. 28, an overnight drone attack in Jordan killed three American troops and left at least 40 troops injured.

A low profile United States military desert outpost in Jordan becomes an international concern as a drone attack that took place the night of Jan. 28 killed three U.S. troops that were targeted by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.  Before the attack, the United States had around 3,000 troops in Jordan as of 2023 according to the Congressional Research Service as they wanted to focus on Jordanian security and the Islamic State more thoroughly.

The initial attack was conducted by an enemy drone that was mistaken for a U.S. one, which is how the drone accessed the base unchallenged. 

“National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday the U.S. believes the attack was planned,” said AP News. “Resourced and facilitated by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group that includes the militant group Kataib Hezbollah. He said Biden “believes that it is important to respond in an appropriate way.” 

According to the Washington Post, the Pentagon made it a point to identify what happened at the isolated facility with the goal to prevent more bloodshed as attacks by Iranian proxy forces continue. 

Questions about what the U.S. will do to respond arise. 

To answer these questions, President Biden made it very clear that the U.S. will strike back after this deadly drone attack. How is still unclear as Biden has multiple options towards the matter according to AP News. This decision is anything but easy for Biden as a weak response will do little to stop the attacks by Iran-backed militia groups, but a more violent approach risks the turmoil in the Middle East which would only make things harder as it would only draw America into a deeper conflict.

AP News describes that Iran threatened to “decisively respond” to any U.S. attack on the Islamic Republic. The U.S. signaled it is preparing for retaliation attacks in the Mideast after the attack at Tower 22 that wounded 40 troops. 

Tower 22 is a secretive base in northeastern Jordan that has been very important as the American presence in Syria. 

The troops killed were identified as Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, Spec. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, and Spec. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, says AP News.