Cautionary words from President Biden who says the US shall
respond after Iranian backed militants killed 3 American service personnel
and injured at least 30,
all stationed in Jordan. They are the first American service
members to die from hostile fire since the start of
the Israel Hamas war.
The troops were there to support American forces in Syria
and assist the military in Jordan.
Their post is called Tower 22.
Officials say it was hit by a one way drone.
Some of the wounded are being treated for serious shrapnel
wounds.
Others are being examined for traumatic brain injury.
Since the Israel Hamas war,
Iranian backed militants have repeatedly carried out strikes from Iraq,
Syria and notably Yemen, where the US and its allies
have intercepted dozens of missiles and drones.
Iran's foreign minister told our Martha Raddatz just days ago
that no one would benefit from a wider war.
Tonight, the White House is walking a fine line between
fighting back and risking a larger conflict.
ABC Senior White House correspondent Selena Wang leads us off
tonight. The first American troops killed by enemy fire since
the start of the Israel Hamas war.
The White House blaming Iran backed militants for the deadly
drone attack on a US base in Jordan near the
border with Syria.
Three Americans at Tower 22 base were killed and at
least thirty were injured when the drone strike made it
through the bases air defenses.
The Pentagon says some of those injuries are serious including
shrapnel wounds and possible traumatic brain injuries.
President Biden addressing the attack today at an event in
South Carolina vowing to hold those responsible accountable.
We had a tough day
last night.
We lost
three grades,
so and
we shall respond.
Iranian backed militants have launched more than
150 attacks on U.S. forces in the region since October.
the US has retaliated several times with strikes of its
own.
Just this week, AB CS Martha Raddatz pressed the highest
ranking U.S.
military officer on the administration's strategy.
What would you say to those people who are
critics who would say, look,
they're not being tough enough on these militants,
they're not being tough enough
on Iran. I would also ask what they do.
They want a broader conflict.
Do you want us in a full scale war?
And so we've got to be thoughtful about our approach
in in these areas,
and we can't predict exactly how any
one of these groups is going to respond.
We don't want to go down the path of greater
escalation that drives to a much broader conflict
within the region than ever Present risk of military escalation.
Selena Wang joins us now from the White House.
Selena, now that American troops are dead,
we're already seeing increased pressure on the Biden administration to
respond.
Exactly, Lindsay. The pressure is growing.
Republican lawmakers, including Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Mike Johnson,
they're calling on the president to take stronger action to
stop these attacks.
Now, U.S. officials tell me tonight that they do expect
a serious response from the Biden administration.
But look, the president here is walking a very fine
line.
He's trying to deter these attacks from these Iranian backed
militant groups while also trying to prevent this conflict from
spreading.
Lindsay Selena from the White House.
Thanks so much, Selena.