Air defenses failed to stop a deadly attack on a U.S. military outpost in Jordan on Sunday because the hostile drone homed in on its target at the same time an American drone was returning to the base, two U.S. officials said Monday.
The attack on Sunday killed three U.S. service members, the first known American military fatalities from hostile fire in the turmoil spilling over from Israel’s war with Hamas.
At least 34 others were injured in the strike, which Biden administration officials say used a drone launched by an Iran-backed militia in Iraq.
The one-way attack drone hit near the outpost’s living quarters, causing injuries that ranged from minor cuts to brain trauma, a U.S. military official said.
It serves as a logistics and resupply hub for the Al Tanf garrison nearby in southeastern Syria, where American troops work with local Syrian partners to fight remnants of the Islamic State.
Persons:
Biden, Lloyd J, Austin III, ” Mr, Austin, Jens Stoltenberg, “, Al
Organizations:
Sunday, Street, Hamas, Senior U.S, ., Defense, Pentagon, U.S, Army, Air Force
Locations:
Jordan, American, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Germany, Al Tanf, Islamic State