Amid rising tensions, Iran denies involvement in Jordan drone attack that killed US soldiers in Jordan. International scrutiny intensifies as accusations fly.
In the aftermath of a drone attack near the Jordan-Syria border that resulted in the deaths of three US military personnel and injuries to several others, Iran has categorically denied any involvement. The incident has sparked tensions, with US President Joe Biden and UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron attributing the attack to Iran-backed groups.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani dismissed the accusations, stating, “As we have clearly stated before, the resistance groups in the region are responding [to] the war crimes and genocide of the child-killing Zionist regime, and… they do not take orders from the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Kanaani emphasized that these groups operate independently, guided by their own principles, priorities, and the interests of their respective countries and people.
Accusations of Iranian involvement were deemed by Kanaani as politically motivated, aiming to distort the realities of the region. He suggested that these allegations were influenced by third parties, including what he referred to as the “child-killing Zionist regime.” Tehran’s mission to the United Nations echoed these sentiments, stating that Iran had “no connection and had nothing to do” with the attack, attributing it to the ongoing conflict between US forces and resistance groups in the region.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella organization comprising Iran-backed armed groups, has claimed responsibility for the drone strike on Tower 22, a logistics support base. This marks the first instance of American casualties due to enemy fire since the commencement of the conflict in Gaza.
Despite Iran’s denial of involvement, President Biden condemned the attack, describing it as a “despicable and wholly unjust” act. He pledged to hold those responsible accountable “at a time and in a manner [of] our choosing.” The incident has heightened tensions, with Washington accusing Iranian-backed groups of carrying out numerous attacks on US military installations in Iraq and Syria since the start of the conflict.
The situation remains fluid, and the international community is closely monitoring developments in the region as diplomatic efforts are underway to ascertain the facts surrounding the drone attack and prevent further escalation of tensions.