Gabrielle Apisa '27
On January 28, 2024 three U.S. military personnel were killed by an invading drone in northeastern Jordan. Based at Tower 22 on the Jordanic side of the Syrian border, it has been unfortunate to report that Sergeant William Rivers, Specialist Kennedy Ladon Sanders, and Specialist Breonna Alexsondria Moffett all lost their lives.
President Joe Biden, after consulting with his national security team, publicly recognized the deaths of these “three brave souls.” His ultimate reciprocation, though, were the words, “We shall respond.”
Moreover, this Middle Eastern attack was the first in Jordan, but one of many that have targeted the United States Armed Forces. At a DOD, or Department of Defense meeting, Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh reported that, “From October 17 to January 29, we are tracking approximately 165 attacks: 66 in Iraq, 98 in Syria, and, of course, 1 in Jordan.”
With U.S. bases throughout the Middle East holding a clear target on their back, it was even more concerning to know that this recent attack in Jordan was the first to fatally kill any troops. Not only that, but the unmanned aerial system in Jordan served to injure over 40 service members as it struck housing units at Tower 22.
Therefore, President Biden’s “we shall respond” retaliation has served to spark some controversy, seeing as his administration's deterrence has not terminated nor tamed ongoing attacks in the Middle East.
Furthermore, it has been officially speculated that the January 28 assault was an Iran-backed attack, or more specifically, Sabrina Singh delineated that, “this is an IRGC-backed militia.” In this statement, she was referring to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which, as a branch of the Iranian Armed Forces, guards the Islamic Republic.
It has been voiced that the groups striking U.S. forces in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan are fundamentally equipped and financed by Iran. Although it has been continuously stated that the United States Department of Defense has no intention of entering a full-fledged war with Iran, an expansion of the dissension in Gaza is in no way encouraged.
Considering that the drone invasion in Jordan was just the first to jeopardize the safety of U.S. troops, the Department of Defense doesn’t foresee a regional war erupting. Likewise, the DOD has also disclosed that they don’t believe Iran intends to ensue battle with the United States.
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