Opinion | Biden should target Iranian operatives after the killing of U.S. troops
Washington PostJan 29
Jordan: 3 US Soldiers Dead After Drone Strike on Military Base
The Facts
Three American soldiers were reportedly killed and at least 34 others injured in a drone strike in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border, according to US officials. The first US military fatalities amid the raging Israel-Hamas war mark the latest escalation of simmering regional tensions.
US Pres. Joe Biden blamed Iran-backed proxies for the attack on a key logistical support base in Jordan known as Tower 22, where about 350 US troops are stationed, according to the US military. He said the US "will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner (of) our choosing."
The Spin
Anti-Iran narrative
Following continuous attacks on US regional targets, Iran has now crossed a red line with the deaths of US military personnel. The ongoing war in the Middle East may be asymmetrical, but that shouldn't deter Washington from taking more decisive military action — directly or indirectly — against an Iranian regime that's escalating tensions.
Pro-Iran narrative
Given the US role in the raging conflict in the Middle East, it was only a matter of time before American military personnel suffered casualties. Resistance groups in the region have long criticized American hegemony for supporting Israel's atrocities on Palestinians. It's clear that the US is now trying to unilaterally escalate the conflict.
Nerd narrative
There is a 14% chance that a state-based conflict between Israel and Iran will cause at least 1K deaths before 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.