Three US service members were killed and many wounded during an unmanned aerial drone attack on American forces stationed in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border, President Joe Biden said on Sunday, blaming Iran-backed groups for the attack.
"While we are still gathering the facts of this attack, we know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq," Biden said in a statement.
The deaths marked the first fatalities of US troops in the region since Israel began its war on Gaza. Biden said the attack occurred on Saturday night.
"We will carry on their commitment to fight terrorism. And have no doubt - we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing," Biden said in his statement released by the White House.
Biden's statement did not mention how many troops were injured but CNN said at least two dozen service members were wounded in the attack.
The US has taken several retaliatory actions against the Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria, one as recently as last week, when the US struck three facilities in Iraq used by Kataib Hezbollah and other Iran-affiliated groups.
The New Arab and Reuters