U.S. Boosts Air Defenses at Jordan Base in Wake of Drone Attack that Claimed Three American Lives
Washington, D.C. – In response to a fatal drone attack on Sunday that resulted in the loss of three American soldiers, the United States is dispatching additional air defenses to the northeastern Jordanian base involved, as confirmed by a U.S. official.
The targeted outpost, identified as Tower 22, had not experienced previous attacks, leading to comparatively weaker air defenses compared to U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria, which have faced sustained threats since October, the official disclosed. The newly deployed air defense system is specifically designed to intercept drones.
The Defense Department reports that approximately 350 U.S. Army and Air Force personnel are stationed at Tower 22. The Pentagon, in its latest update on Monday, revealed that the number of wounded has surpassed 40 following the drone strike on sleeping quarters during the early hours of Sunday.
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh addressed reporters on Monday, highlighting the unique nature of the attack, emphasizing that it diverged from prior incidents by targeting living quarters and occurring in the early morning. Singh also stated that an investigation is underway to determine how the drone managed to evade the outpost’s air defenses.
“We are trying to figure out how a one-way attack drone was able to evade air defenses and was able to kill three of our service members and injure dozens more,” she remarked.
Notably, Tower 22 lacked the robust air defenses present at a special forces base situated approximately 15 miles north in al-Tanf, Syria, which has been subject to frequent attacks. The incident at Tower 22 marked the first time a drone had landed on the Jordanian side of the border.
Since October 17, there have been at least 165 attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq, Syria, and now Jordan by groups with alleged Iranian backing, prompting heightened security concerns in the region.
U.S. beefing up air defenses at Jordan base where 3 soldiers were killed by drone https://t.co/sjYY3PVx8V via @NewsNowUK
— Pocket News (@PocketNews62) January 30, 2024