President Joe Biden has announced that he has reached a decision on how the United States will respond to the recent drone strike that claimed the lives of three American troops in Jordan over the weekend.
Speaking from the White House, President Biden did not provide details about the course of action but emphasized his desire to avoid a broader conflict in the Middle East.
The drone strike, claimed by an Iran-backed militia group, targeted a US military base, marking the first instance of American soldiers being killed by enemy fire in the Middle East since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war on October 7.
When questioned by reporters about whether he holds Iran responsible for the attack, President Biden acknowledged Iran’s involvement, stating, “I do hold them [Iran] responsible in the sense that they’re supplying the weapons to the people who did it.”
The White House National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, outlined that the US might adopt a “tiered approach” in its response, potentially involving multiple actions over a period of time. Kirby emphasized the goal of degrading the capabilities of groups responsible for attacks against US troops and facilities.
“We continue to degrade the kinds of capabilities that these groups have at their disposal to use against our troops and our facilities,” Kirby said. He underscored the president’s commitment to safeguarding national security and protecting US troops and facilities.
President Biden has a range of options for potential responses, including retaliatory strikes on Iran-allied bases and commanders. Another possibility is targeting senior commanders of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps in Iraq or Syria.
