Officials say the drone that killed US troops was made in Iran
The United States Accuses Iran of Manufacturing Drone Used in Attack on U.S. Base
The United States has assessed that Iran manufactured the drone that slammed into a U.S. base in Jordan over the weekend, killing three American soldiers and wounding more than 40, four U.S. officials told Reuters.
Washington has blamed the attack—the first to kill U.S. troops in the Middle East since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October—on Iran-backed militants, and President Joe Biden’s administration has promised a multi-tiered response that will include strikes.
But it has stopped short of publicly saying where the actual weapon that killed the Americans came from, even as it acknowledged Iran’s ultimate responsibility for funding and even in some cases training the militants responsible.
The officials, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, did not provide the model of the drone and said analysis was still ongoing.
While the initial indications were that the drone was likely Iranian, a formal assessment was made only recently after recovering fragments of the drone.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, asked about the matter at a news briefing following the Reuters report, stopped short of confirming the drone’s origin.
“We’re still doing the forensics,” Austin said. “But most of the drones that are in the region have a connection with Iran. So…”
Austin said he didn’t know whether Iran knew about the attack ahead of time, but added that, in his view, it didn’t matter.
“How much Iran knew or didn’t know, we don’t know. But it really doesn’t matter because Iran sponsors these groups, it funds these groups, and in some cases, it trains these groups on advanced, conventional weapons,” Austin said. Kataib Hezbollah, a pro-Iranian militia based in Iraq, said on Tuesday it was suspending military actions against the United States to avoid embarrassing the Baghdad government.
Biden’s administration said it was not seeking a war with Iran, even as Republican pressure on him to respond forcefully has been rising.
Iranian officials have said Tehran will respond to any threat from the United States. Iran’s envoy to the United States said Tehran would respond decisively to any attack on its territory, its interests, or Iranian nationals outside its borders.
U.S. troops have been attacked more than 160 times in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan since the events of Oct. 7 that triggered the war in Gaza, and warships have seen attacks in the Red Sea as well. Houthi fighters in Yemen have fired drones and missiles at them on the Red Sea in solidarity with the Palestinians.
Amid expectations of multi-day strikes, Austin suggested it would take a multitiered response to address threats by Iran-backed groups against U.S. forces.
“I don’t think the adversaries are of a one-and-done mindset,” Austin told reporters.
“And so, they have a lot of capability. I have a lot more. … We’re going to do what’s necessary to protect our troops and our interests.”
The attack in Jordan, and any U.S. response, is likely to stoke fears of wider conflict in the Middle East following the Oct. 7 raid in southern Israel by Hamas in which the Israeli authorities said 1,200 people were killed and 253 taken hostage.
Israel’s subsequent assault on Gaza has killed over 27,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run local health ministry.
The United States has already retaliated in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen in response to previous attacks by Iran-backed groups.
Experts have cautioned that any strikes against Iranian forces inside Iran could force Tehran to respond, escalating the situation in a way that could drag the United States into a major Middle East war.
Published under: Iran
What diplomatic measures can be explored to deescalate tensions and improve the strained relationship between the United States and Iran in light of this accusation
Take stronger action against the country continues to grow. The accusation that Iran manufactured the drone used in the attack on the U.S. base in Jordan adds further tension to the already strained relationship between the two nations.
The attack on the U.S. base resulted in the tragic loss of three American soldiers and left over 40 others injured. While Washington has attributed the attack to Iran-backed militants, it has not revealed the exact source of the weapon that caused the casualties. However, it has acknowledged Iran’s financial support and involvement in training the responsible militants.
Four U.S. officials, speaking anonymously to Reuters, confirmed that the drone used in the attack was likely manufactured by Iran. However, they did not disclose the specific model of the drone and stated that further analysis is still being conducted to determine its origin.
When questioned about the matter during a news briefing following the Reuters report, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin refrained from explicitly confirming the drone’s origin. Austin explained that forensic investigations are still ongoing, but highlighted that most drones in the region have ties to Iran.
Austin also commented on whether Iran had prior knowledge of the attack, stating that the level of awareness did not impact the situation significantly. He emphasized that Iran sponsors and supports these militant groups, providing them with funding and advanced conventional weapons.
In response to the accusation, Kataib Hezbollah, a pro-Iranian militia based in Iraq, announced its decision to temporarily suspend military actions against the United States. The group seeks to avoid causing embarrassment to the Baghdad government.
The Biden administration has reiterated that it does not seek a war with Iran. However, pressure from Republicans for a more assertive approach towards the nation persists.
As tensions continue to rise between the United States and Iran, this accusation of Iran manufacturing the drone used in the attack on the U.S. base adds another layer of complexity to an already strained relationship. The situation calls for a measured and calculated response from both nations to prevent further escalation and promote stability in the region.
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