The United States is preparing to respond to this weekend’s drone attack near the Jordan and Syria border that resulted in the death of three American soldiers and injuries of more than 30 others.
President Joe Biden said on Sunday that the nation would respond to the attack which is being seen as the first US casualties to stem from the Israel and Hamas war.
One top US official spoke about the attack with Axios, saying that a “significant military response” against the pro-Iranian militias believed to be responsible for the drone attack is being discussed.
“We don’t want war but those who are behind this attack need to feel our response,” the official shared with Axios.
As for the president himself, during a press briefing on Sunday he shared that a response from the US was coming.
“We had a tough day last night in the Middle East. We lost three brave souls in an attack on one of our bases,” Biden said, adding “and we shall respond.”
Since the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7, there have been more than 150 attacks targeting US troops in the region, with a majority of them coming from pro-Iranian militias in Iraq and Syria.
Republican leaders have been quick to call on Biden for response, with Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) saying Iran should face “serious, crippling costs” for “not only on front-line terrorist proxies, but on their Iranian sponsors who wear American blood as a badge of honor.”
“The only answer to these attacks must be devastating military retaliation against Iran's terrorist forces, both in Iran and across the Middle East,” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) said. “Anything less will confirm Joe Biden as a coward unworthy of being commander-in-chief.”
As the Pentagon and the White House judge how to respond to the attacks they will do so weighing the risks of sparking a new war in the region that is already witnessing bloodshed.
Still, this won’t be the first time the country has responded to attacks in the Middle East, as the US and UK have been working together to protect vessels traveling in the Red Sea from attacks from the Iran backed Houthi group in Yemen.
However, a response to these attacks won’t be like Operation Prosperity Guardian, as officials are still working to determine exactly who launched the drone and from where it launched.