The risk of escalation in the Middle East has just gone up a notch. Joe Biden threatens retaliation after a drone attack that killed three American soldiers and injured 25. According to the United States, it took place in Jordan, but Jordan says it took place in Syria and not on its soil.
“Today, America has a heavy heart. Last night, three American service members were killed and several injured in a drone attack on our forces based in northeastern Jordan,” the US president said in a statement. “Have no doubt: we will hold all those responsible accountable, when and how we want,” he added, his tone threatening.
Explosive context
Joe Biden asserted that at this point, “we know that this was carried out by a group of radical pro-Iran fighters operating in Syria and Iraq.” These soldiers, the Democratic president wrote, “risked their own safety for the safety of their fellow Americans and that of our allies and partners with whom we fight terrorism.”
These American military deaths occur in an explosive context. Since mid-October, more than 150 drone strikes or rocket attacks have targeted American soldiers and those of the coalition in Iraq and Syria, a direct repercussion of the war in Gaza between Israel, an ally of Washington, and the Palestinian Hamas, supported by Tehran.
And since the beginning of January, Washington has repeatedly bombed Houthi positions in Yemen, these pro-Iran rebels who target international traffic in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.