Sunday saw the mourning of three American military personnel killed in a drone attack in Jordan by congressional leaders, who also demanded revenge against the terrorists supported by Iran, whom the US claims are to blame. The lethal drone assault represents the first American military casualties in the conflict since Hamas' terror act on October 7th sparked the Israel-Hamas war.
Although the U.S. has said that numerous fighters, assisted by Iran, have carried out assaults against U.S. personnel and others in opposition to Israel, the White House is backing Israel against Hamas but has attempted to confine the conflict out of fear that it could ignite a wider war in the Middle East.
The United States has launched a number of punitive operations against the organizations with ties to Iran before to Sunday's attack. Iran has not made any public remarks on the attack in Jordan.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. CQ Brown Jr., recently said to Martha Raddatz of ABC News that he thinks Iran, a regional power with significant rivals in the Middle East, does not seek a fight with the United States.
However, Republican senators criticized President Joe Biden's strategy toward Iran on Sunday, with some advocating for tougher measures against the nation.
"We are grieving for the families of the three American heroes who died in Jordan last night, as well as for the other wounded military men. The world needs to hear America's unmistakable message that assaults on our soldiers will not stand," House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, said on X, previously Twitter.
"Saddened and enraged by the news that the terrible terrorist assault in the Middle East claimed the lives of three American military personnel and injured several more. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., also posted on the platform, saying, "Praying hard for everyone impacted." "Every single malevolent player involved needs to face consequences."
The head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said in his statement that the attack was simply the most recent carried out by proxies supported by Iran across the Middle East, such as those in Syria and Iraq, Lebanon's Hezbollah, and Yemen's Houthis.
He insisted that the White House had "failed" and advocated for a more extensive realignment of strategy.
McCaul said, "To preserve our national security objectives and restore deterrence, we need a comprehensive reset of our Middle East strategy."
Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky and leader of the Senate minority, repeated it in a statement, adding, "Last night, the cost of failing to deter America's enemies was again quantified in American lives." We cannot afford to continue taking hesitant and insufficient action in response to this deadly violence."
The Pentagon should target Iran in response, according to Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., which would be a significant step that may have far-reaching effects and engage the United States more deeply in the area.
"The removal of all Iranian proxies by the Biden Administration will not stop Iranian aggression. Graham issued a statement saying, "I am calling on the Biden Administration to attack significant targets within Iran, not just as retaliation for the loss of our servicemen, but also as a deterrent against future aggression." The Iranian dictatorship is only capable of using force. Attacks against U.S. soldiers will continue until they pay a price in terms of manpower and infrastructure."
The one-way drone attack occurred early on Sunday at the Tower 22 outpost in Jordan, close to the Syrian border, according to U.S. officials. In addition to the three American military personnel killed in the incident, a defense official said that at least thirty others were injured.
Although the U.S. has said that numerous fighters, assisted by Iran, have carried out assaults against U.S. personnel and others in opposition to Israel, the White House is backing Israel against Hamas but has attempted to confine the conflict out of fear that it could ignite a wider war in the Middle East.
The United States has launched a number of punitive operations against the organizations with ties to Iran before to Sunday's attack. Iran has not made any public remarks on the attack in Jordan.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. CQ Brown Jr., recently said to Martha Raddatz of ABC News that he thinks Iran, a regional power with significant rivals in the Middle East, does not seek a fight with the United States.
However, Republican senators criticized President Joe Biden's strategy toward Iran on Sunday, with some advocating for tougher measures against the nation.
"We are grieving for the families of the three American heroes who died in Jordan last night, as well as for the other wounded military men. The world needs to hear America's unmistakable message that assaults on our soldiers will not stand," House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, said on X, previously Twitter.
"Saddened and enraged by the news that the terrible terrorist assault in the Middle East claimed the lives of three American military personnel and injured several more. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., also posted on the platform, saying, "Praying hard for everyone impacted." "Every single malevolent player involved needs to face consequences."
The head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said in his statement that the attack was simply the most recent carried out by proxies supported by Iran across the Middle East, such as those in Syria and Iraq, Lebanon's Hezbollah, and Yemen's Houthis.
He insisted that the White House had "failed" and advocated for a more extensive realignment of strategy.
McCaul said, "To preserve our national security objectives and restore deterrence, we need a comprehensive reset of our Middle East strategy."
Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky and leader of the Senate minority, repeated it in a statement, adding, "Last night, the cost of failing to deter America's enemies was again quantified in American lives." We cannot afford to continue taking hesitant and insufficient action in response to this deadly violence."
The Pentagon should target Iran in response, according to Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., which would be a significant step that may have far-reaching effects and engage the United States more deeply in the area.
"The removal of all Iranian proxies by the Biden Administration will not stop Iranian aggression. Graham issued a statement saying, "I am calling on the Biden Administration to attack significant targets within Iran, not just as retaliation for the loss of our servicemen, but also as a deterrent against future aggression." The Iranian dictatorship is only capable of using force. Attacks against U.S. soldiers will continue until they pay a price in terms of manpower and infrastructure."
The one-way drone attack occurred early on Sunday at the Tower 22 outpost in Jordan, close to the Syrian border, according to U.S. officials. In addition to the three American military personnel killed in the incident, a defense official said that at least thirty others were injured.
