The drone that crashed into a base in Jordan, killing three U.S. service members, evaded defenses by tracking a U.S.-operated drone that was returning to the base at the same time, Politico reported Monday, according to the Pentagon. This was reported as an official from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
The explosive-laden drone originated somewhere in Iraq and exploded near the residential area of Jordan's Tower 22 base near the Syrian border, killing three U.S. soldiers and killing at least 34 others, mostly reservists. I was injured. About 90 minutes later, enemy drones targeted the al-Tanf camp near Syria, according to a Pentagon official and another U.S. official. Politico reported. However, the U.S. anti-drone unmanned aircraft system raytheon coyotea Pentagon official said.
Tower 22 and Al Tanf Garrison are just a few miles apart. U.S. drones sometimes defend both, U.S. officials said, according to Politico. (Related: Lloyd Austin returns to Pentagon for first time since secret hospitalization on January 1)
A Pentagon official told Politico on condition of anonymity that Iran-backed militants saw an “opportunity” and “exploited it.”
It was initially unclear how the base's air defense forces were unable to shoot down the drone, and the Pentagon is still investigating the circumstances of the incident. U.S. forces based in Iraq, Syria and, for the first time, Jordan, have faced more than 160 rocket, drone and missile attacks since October 17.
Troops at the base may have confused the approaching enemy drone with a U.S. military drone that returned to the base at about the same time, The Wall Street Journal first reported. reportsaid a US official. But Politico's response suggests that the simultaneous arrivals allowed enemy drones to hide from U.S. detection.
According to WSJ, the drone originated in Iraq. So far, the US has no evidence that Iran ordered the attack, US officials told the outlet, and Tehran denies any official involvement.
The attack marked a major escalation and resulted in the deaths of U.S. service members for the first time. One service member was seriously injured in the Dec. 25 attack on an Iraqi base and is recovering in a hospital, and as of Sunday at least 70 U.S. troops had sustained minor injuries or concussions.
President Joe Biden is facing increasing pressure to respond to Sunday's attack, according to Politico.
U.S. soldiers participate in the Zealous Lion multinational military exercise in Al-Zarqa Governorate, approximately 85 km northeast of Jordan's capital Amman, on September 14, 2022. (Photo: KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP via Getty Images)
Biden called the attack “despicable and completely unwarranted.”
“Three U.S. service members were killed and many others were injured in an unmanned drone attack on U.S. forces stationed in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border,” Biden said. Said. “We are still gathering the facts of this attack, but we know it was carried out by an Iranian-backed extremist group operating in Syria and Iraq.”
Mr. Biden has vowed to avenge the loss of these three service members.
“We will continue their efforts to fight terrorism,” he said. “And there is no question: We will hold everyone responsible accountable at once and in the manner we choose.”
U.S. Central Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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