Will Biden Go to War? | 3 US Troops Killed by Iran-backed Militias | Vantage with Palki Sharma

Summary

Tensions escalate in West Asia as Iran-backed militias launch a drone strike on a US base in Jordan, killing 3 soldiers. The US vows to respond and hold Iran responsible despite its denial of involvement. With bipartisan pressure to retaliate, the US may redirect troops in the region for strikes in Iraq or Iran instead of solely fighting ISIS, risking greater regional war. Both countries wish to avoid further escalation but the attack threatens this, forcing the US to balance deterrence with restraint given domestic political pressures in an election year.

Takeaways

• 😳 Tension continues to escalate in West Asia, potentially drawing the US directly into the conflict
• 💥 A US military base in Jordan called Tower 22 was attacked, killing 3 soldiers
• 👿 The attack was a drone strike launched by a group backed by Iran calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq
• 😡 This Iran-backed group has attacked the US over 160 times since October 2022
• 😓 This strike that killed 3 US troops is the first direct hostile action since the Israel-Hamas war began
• 😤 President Biden said the US shall respond and will hold all responsible to account
• 🤔 Iran denies giving orders to the militias that attacked, distancing itself from the strikes
• 😾 But the US blames Iran, with politicians calling for strikes inside Iran in response
• 🤨 The US had troops in the region to combat ISIS, but they may now be redirected against Iran-backed groups
• 😰 There is a chance the US escalates with boots on the ground, risking a larger war the US and Iran both want to avoid

Q & A

What happened that may draw the US directly into the war?

A US military base called Tower 22 in Jordan was attacked by a drone strike launched by a group backed by Iran, killing 3 American soldiers and injuring at least 34 others.

What group took credit for the drone strike attack?

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a group of militias that operate in Iraq and Syria and are backed by Iran.

How has the Islamic Resistance targeted the US recently?

Reports say the group has attacked the US over 160 times since the October 7th attack by Hamas.

How did President Biden and Defense Secretary Austin respond?

They made statements blaming Iran for backing the radical militant groups responsible for the attack.

What actions are US politicians calling for against Iran?

Republican Senators Graham and McConnell want Biden to strike targets inside Iran and compel Iran to change its behavior. Congressman Jeffrey says all responsible actors must be held accountable.

What principle had the US been operating under regarding Iran up till now?

The principle of deterrence, trying to deter Iran-backed groups from attacking through limited air strikes and missile attacks.

Why might the US now feel compelled to escalate militarily?

Because deterrence failed and 3 soldiers were killed, putting political pressure on Biden to respond forcefully in an election year.

How many US troops are currently stationed near Iran?

About 900 in Syria, 2,500 in Iraq, and 4,000 in Jordan.

What were these troops originally placed to combat?

They were leading a coalition to fight the ISIS terror group in the region.

What are both the US and Iran trying to avoid?

An all-out war between the two countries in West Asia.

Outlines

00:00

😕 US military base in Jordan attacked by Iran-backed militias

A US military base called Tower 22 in Jordan was attacked by drones launched by the Iran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq group. 3 US soldiers were killed and 34 injured. The US blames Iran for backing the militias. Iran denies giving orders. US President Biden and officials vow to hold responsible parties accountable, indicating potential US retaliation.

😟 Iran denies responsibility but US blames it for attack

Iran denies giving orders to the militias for the attack. But the US blames Iran for backing the radical groups responsible. US politicians call for striking Iran. The US may have to escalate despite trying to avoid war with Iran.

😧 US troops may switch focus from ISIS to Iran-backed militias

The US has troops in the region to combat ISIS. But they may now target the Iran-backed militias instead. However, that risks all-out war, which both the US and Iran want to avoid. The attack may have changed things. The scenario remains uncertain.

Keywords

💡escalation

Escalation refers to the increasing tensions and hostilities between countries or parties. In the video, it describes how the conflict between the US and Iran-backed militias is intensifying after the drone attack that killed American soldiers. This escalation raises the chances of further retaliation and potential war between the US and Iran.

💡drone attack

The drone attack refers to the strike carried out by Iran-backed militias using drones that targeted the US military base Tower 22 in Jordan. This attack killed 3 American soldiers and injured 34, marking a major escalation in the conflict.

💡Islamic Resistance in Iraq

This is the name of the Iran-backed militant group that claimed responsibility for the drone attack on the US base. They have been increasingly targeting US forces in retaliation for the October attack by Israel on Hamas.

💡deterrence

Deterrence refers to the strategy of preventing attacks by threatening retaliation. The video says the US policy of deterrence against Iran-backed militias has failed as they were not deterred from attacking the US base.

💡retaliation

Retaliation means responding to an attack with counter-measures. The video discusses how the US may retaliate against Iran or militias for the drone attack, with political leaders calling for strikes on Iranian targets.

💡escalation

Escalation means an increase in the intensity of a conflict. There are concerns that retaliation by the US could lead to further escalation potentially into an all-out war between the US and Iran.

💡deterrence

Deterrence refers to discouraging actions by threat of reprisals. The video states that US deterrence failed to prevent the drone attack, which killed US soldiers.

💡militias

Militias refer to armed groups fighting in support of a political cause. Iran-backed Iraqi militias carried out the attack, showing their growing confrontation with the US.

💡hostilities

Hostilities mean conflict and unfriendly actions between parties. Tensions and hostilities between the US and Iran-backed militias continue escalating after the deadly drone strike on US forces.

💡retaliation

Retaliation means responding to an injury or attack with counter-measures. The video discusses how the US may retaliate against Iran or militias for the drone attack that killed US soldiers.

Highlights

Tension continues to escalate between US and Iran-backed militias

US military base in Jordan attacked, 3 soldiers killed, 34 injured

Attack launched by Iran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq militia group

First US casualties from hostile action since Israel-Hamas war began

Biden threatens response against those responsible

Iran denies ordering attack, says militias acted independently

US firmly blames Iran, politicians call for strikes inside Iran

Biden under pressure to respond strongly in an election year

US troops in region could shift focus from ISIS to Iran-backed militias

Risk of further escalation and all-out war between US and Iran

Both sides were trying to avoid direct conflict until now

Deterrence failed - militias attacked despite US strikes in Iraq/Syria/Yemen

Boots on the ground now in play - US has troops near conflict zones

Troops may redirect from fighting ISIS to targeting Iran militias

Attack changed scenario - war may be difficult for both to avoid now

Transcripts

meanwhile in West Asia tension continues

to escalate so much so that now the US

may be drawn directly into this war so

far they were operating on the sidelines

but now they've suffered a direct attack

it happened on Sunday night at a US

military base called Tower

22 it's in Jordan Tower 22 was attacked

three American soldiers were killed at

least 34 were injured it was a drone

attack launched by group that calls

itself the Islamic resistance in

Iraq this is the group that has taken

credit for the strike it's a group of

militias that operate in Iraq and Syria

and they're backed by

Iran this iran-backed group has been on

the war path for months since the

October 7th attack by Hamas they've

attacked the US multiple times Reports

say over 160 times and finally this

weekend they broke through the American

defenses

it's a massive escalation three US

troops killed by direct hostile

action it's a first since the Israel

Hamas War began and this may Force the

Americans into action I want to point

out that we had a tough day last night

in the Middle East we lost three brave

souls and attack one of our

bases I

ask

Jes and we shall

respond God bless you all thank you for

allowing to be

here Biden said that the US shall

respond he also released a statement the

last line is clearly a

threat it says we will hold all those

responsible to account at a time and in

a manner of our

choosing this has sent alarm bells

ringing in West Asia especially in Iran

the country Washington blames for the

deaths here is how Iran

responded resistance groups in the

region do not take orders from the

Islamic Republic of Iran in their

decisions and actions repeating baseless

accusations against Iran is the

projection and conspiracy of those who

see their interests in dragging

America's feet into a new battle in the

region and inciting it in the expansion

and escalation of the crisis to cover up

their

problems so thean is distancing itself

from the attacks it says it did not give

orders to the militias that they acted

on their own but the US is not buying it

look at Biden's statement again he said

the attack was carried out by radical

iran-backed militant

groups he made sure to mention Iran so

did defense secretary Lloyd Austin in a

separate

statement so they are not being shy

about naming Iran and American

politicians are even less

restrained Republican party Senator

Lindsay Graham has called for and I'm

quoting striking targets of significance

inside

Iran Republican senator Mitch McConnell

wants Biden to and I'm quoting again

exercise American strengths to compel

Iran to change its Behavior even

Democrats are not holding back

Congressman hakee Jeffrey says every

single malignant actor responsible must

be held

accountable so Biden may not have a

choice really three soldiers have died

this is an election year Joe Biden

cannot afford to look soft which means

there is a chance that the US would

escalate so far it has limited itself to

air strikes in Iraq and Syria and

missile attacks on the Yemen based houti

group Washington was working on the

principle of deterrence but that has

clearly failed they could not deter the

Iraq based militias from

attacking so now the boots on the ground

may come into play and the Americans do

have some they have about 900 troops in

Syria 2,500 in Iraq and 4,000 in

Jordan they had been placed there to

combat a different threat to fight the

Isis the US has been leading a coalition

to take down the terror group Isis in

this region but these troops could now

be redirected and they may be used

against the Islamic resistance in Iraq

instead or perhaps even against their

backers in

Iran that risks another allout war in

West Asia something that the US and Iran

have both been trying to avoid and

Iran's message proves this so do

America's actions so far but this attack

may have changed the scenario we'll keep

you updated as the story

develops