Two US service members were killed and a third wounded in a drone attack on a US base in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border on Sunday, January 28, 2024, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM). The attack, which occurred at the Tower 22 logistics support base, was attributed to Iran-backed militia groups operating in the region.
President Joe Biden blamed Iran for supplying the weapons used in the attack, stating that the US would respond at a time and manner of its choosing. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed militias, claimed responsibility for the drone strike, which also injured over 40 US troops, with some suffering traumatic brain injuries.
The incident marked a significant escalation in tensions between the US and Iran, as it was the first time US service members were killed by hostile fire in the region since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. The US has since conducted retaliatory strikes against targets in Iraq and Syria linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated militias.
