In a tragic incident reported on Sunday, three U.S. service members lost their lives, and “many” others suffered injuries in a drone strike in Jordan, as stated by the President. The President attributed the attack to militia groups backed by Iran.

While U.S. officials are still working to definitively identify the responsible group, it is believed that one of several Iranian-backed factions is likely behind the attack. With resolve, President Biden declared that the United States will ensure accountability, specifying that this action will be taken “at a time and in a manner of our choosing.”

The attack unfolded in northeast Jordan, near the Syrian border, a region historically used by U.S. troops as a basing point. The conflicting information emerged as Jordanian state television quoted a government spokesman insisting that the attack happened outside the kingdom, across the border in Syria. However, this discrepancy remains unresolved.

U.S. Central Command reported 25 injured service members in addition to the three fatalities. Typically, around 3,000 American troops are stationed in Jordan. The kingdom, strategically positioned with borders touching Iraq, Israel, the West Bank, Saudi Arabia, and Syria, now grapples with the aftermath of this tragic incident.

The targeting of American troops in Jordan during the Israel-Hamas war marks a significant escalation. Since the conflict’s onset, U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria have faced drone and missile attacks. Syria, entrenched in a civil war, serves as a launch pad for Iranian-backed forces, including Hezbollah, while Iraq hosts various Iranian-backed Shiite militias. President Biden, briefed while in South Carolina, emphasized the gravity of the situation, and the U.S. government is actively addressing the aftermath of this heartbreaking event.