3 US troops killed in Jordan after Iran-backed attack, Biden vows response | LiveNOW from FOX

Summary

Three US service members were killed and 25 others injured in a drone attack targeting a base in Jordan. President Biden vowed in a statement to hold responsible the Iran-backed militant groups that carried out the 'despicable and wholly unjust attack.' Biden said the fallen 'embodied the very best of our nation' with their 'unwavering bravery' and 'ultimate sacrifice' that 'will never be forgotten.' Officials said it was the first attack in the Middle East targeting US troops since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

Takeaways

• 😨 3 US service members were killed and 25 injured in a drone attack on a base in Jordan.
• 😡 The attack was carried out by Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq.
• 🇺🇸 President Biden vowed to hold those responsible for the attack accountable.
• ⚠️ The attack marks an escalation in tensions in the Middle East.
• 🚨 The US is expected to respond strongly and swiftly to the attack.
• 🇯🇴 This was the first attack targeting US troops in Jordan.
• 😔 The names of the fallen service members will be released after their families are notified.
• 🤝 A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could help deescalate tensions across the region.
• 🕵️‍♂️ US military and intelligence officials are developing options for responding to the attack.
• 💪 The US remains committed to fighting terrorism and honoring the sacrifice of the fallen service members.

Q & A

Where did the drone attack targeting the US service members take place?

The drone attack took place at a US military base in northeast Jordan near the Syria border.

How many US service members were killed in the attack?

3 US service members were killed in the drone attack.

How many others were injured in the attack?

25 other US service members were injured in the attack.

Who does the US believe carried out the attack?

The US believes the attack was carried out by Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq.

What kind of response is the US planning?

President Biden has vowed to hold those responsible for the attack accountable. The US is likely planning a military response targeting the militant groups behind the attack.

How does this attack impact US operations in the Middle East?

This attack will likely lead to increased security and force protection for US troops in the region. It may also impact US planning on moving forces in and out of the Middle East.

How does the attack relate to the Israel-Hamas war?

The attack appears to be related to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, as US troops were targeted by Iran-backed groups supporting Hamas.

What was the context behind the US troops being stationed in Jordan?

The US has long had troops stationed in Jordan, which is seen as a relatively safe location to operate in the Middle East region.

What has been the US response to Iranian aggression previously?

The US has responded to Iranian aggression before with targeted strikes on Iranian-backed militias in places like Syria and Iraq.

How might this impact efforts for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas?

This attack may add pressure towards reaching a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in order to deescalate tensions.

Outlines

00:00

📰 Breaking News: US Service Members Killed in Drone Attack in Jordan

Paragraph 1 reports breaking news that 3 US service members were killed and 25 others injured in a drone attack targeting a base in Jordan. Retired intelligence officer Hal Kempfer provides analysis, stating this is the first attack killing US troops amid the Israel-Hamas war. He discusses the US response and impact on operations in the Middle East.

05:00

⚖️ Attack Shifts View of Middle East as Safe Haven for US Troops

Paragraph 2 analyzes how the attack changes the view of Jordan and the Middle East as a safe haven for US troops. Kempfer explains the US will increase force protection across the region and overhaul planning for moving forces, noting the attack provokes Iran and brings Jordan into the larger conflict.

10:01

🪖 Potential US Responses Range from Limited Strikes to Large-scale Attack

Paragraph 3 examines the potential US responses, ranging from limited strikes on militia targets to a large-scale attack like in Yemen. Factors include military, diplomatic and international security considerations directed by the White House.

15:02

❤️ Notification of Families Dictates Release of Names of Those Killed

Paragraph 4 discusses the process of notifying families before releasing names of those killed, which provides time to process events. More attack details are expected in coming days.

20:03

😤 Biden and Harris Vow Response and Honor Those Killed

Paragraph 5 shows reactions from President Biden and Vice President Harris, who released statements mourning the deaths and vowing to respond against those responsible while honoring the service members killed.

Keywords

💡drone attack

There was a drone attack that targeted a base in Jordan where US service members were stationed. This attack killed 3 US service members and injured 25 others. It is described as a 'massive escalation' and signals increased conflict and instability in the Middle East region.

💡breaking news

This term is used several times to emphasize that the attack and casualties are new information that is still unfolding. It connotes urgency and significance of the event.

💡Iran

Iran is implicated as being behind the attack through militant groups they back. Tensions between Iran and the US are a key part of the context.

💡military response

There is much discussion of how the US military will respond to the attack, including planning groups exploring options for offensives against those responsible.

💡casualties

The attack caused 3 deaths and 25 injuries among the US service members. Notifying families and honoring the fallen warriors is discussed.

💡Jordan

The attack occurred in Jordan at a base where US troops were operating. Jordan's response is discussed since it violates their sovereignty.

💡terrorism

The attack is labeled as terrorism, despicable, and unjust. The US vows to hold those terrorists responsible.

💡Middle East conflict

The attack raises uncertainties about the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Some hope a ceasefire could calm the regional tensions.

💡international relations

The US and allies like Jordan face decisions about diplomatic and military responses. Multilateral actions against Iran are considered.

💡national security

The attack and options for response are framed in terms of defending national security interests against militant groups.

Highlights

3 US service members have been killed and 25 others injured in a drone attack in Jordan

This is the first time US troops have been killed in the Middle East since the start of the Israel-Hamas war

This attack marks a major escalation and brings Jordan into the larger conflict

The US will likely increase force protection across the Middle East in response

The US will respond soon and strongly to this attack

The attack shifts how the US views potential threats and deployment in the region

Iran will likely face increased diplomatic and military pressure

Names of fallen service members will be released after families are notified

More attack details will likely emerge this afternoon or tomorrow

The US response will be stronger than past reactions in Syria/Iraq

There will be overt and covert communication with Iran on the attack

Encouraging ceasefire talks continue between Israel and Hamas

The attack complicates US-Israel talks on the Hamas conflict

A prisoner exchange could lead to a temporary ceasefire in Gaza

ICJ ruling affirms Israel's right to self-defense, limits Hamas options

Transcripts

continue to bring you the

day's top stories, and we do

want to begin here with

this breaking news. out of

the Middle East as we're

learning that 3 US service

members have been killed

in 25 others injured. in

a drone attack targeting a

base in Jordan a massive

escalation. in the Middle

East as Trey yingst

reports here. We want to

bring in retired Marine

intelligence officer

National Security expert

Hal Kemper who always is

so gracious. and is willing

to join us during these

breaking news situations

all of these big stories,

So how thank you so much

for being here. Well,

thank you, Lexi. Obviously,

this is uh some tragic

news that we are getting

in this weekend of the 3

US service members who have

been killed. 25 others who

have been injured and held

I believe this is the first

set of US troops who have

been killed in the Middle

East. since the start of the

Israel Hamas War. Lexi

is is near as I was

checking this morning when

I got the news. and I can't

find another. instance

where US troops are actually

killed. injured is another

story. Although I I'm

getting a sense that the

injuries that were

suffered which are rather

extensive. 25 injured on

top of the 3 killed. um

that those were uh, uh,

probably very serious

injuries Apparently a drone

got in and got right in the

midst of 1 of our troop

concentrations. and uh and

have obviously has has

caused a great deal of of

of damage. uh, not to

mention death and suffering.

uh that goes with that

This is the first time

we've seen something like

this We've seen a number

of these drone attacks.

in the area. Uh, we

certainly saw them in uh,

Iraq and we've responded to

those Syria we responded to

those of course. uh, they've

attempted to attack our

warships. in the Red Sea and

the Sea of Aiden uh, and

we've responded to those but

this is the first time.

that we've seen. an Iran

Well, it's an Iranian

militia group. Uh attack

US troops in Jordan and

this is a big shift because

up to this point. there

have been no attacks on

Jordanian. uh Sovereign

territory. and uh, I'm I'm

wondering how the Jordanian

uh, uh how the king and how

the Jordanian military is

going to respond. to this

incursion on uh in the

into their Sovereign

territory. Well, we've seen

all of these, uh visits

too on behalf of the Biden

Administration. blinken

making a couple of trips

to meet with leaders

in the Middle East and and

to see things escalate to

this point. how I think the

big question for everybody

is what does this mean

for? us in the United

States? We keep hearing

that they've been trying

to drag us into this war

between Israel and Hamas and

we really have been

trying to to support Israel

as an ally but obviously

don't want this to

escalate even further.

that's been the point of

a lot of these visits from

leaders here in the US

going to the Middle East.

So what does that mean

for us? Are we now fully

brought in? well it it

doesn't Force us to be quote

fully brought in. uh further

than what we are. Uh, but

what it will do is uh

this cannot we we can't

have something like this

happen and not respond to

it. So uh, expect that

there's going to be a uh,

there should be a

significant. response. Uh,

heading positions, uh

everywhere with the

connected to this group.

and probably uh any

Iranian. uh, forces uh,

irgc allowed. uh

Representatives, uh

connected to this group

as well. Uh, I I'm I don't

know what we're going to

do. I mean, this is this

is a threshold you know

US troops have been killed.

Not not just you know, um,

uh mild TBI, uh injuries

from uh, uh, explosive shock

waves, but this is this

is very different. and

this also has hit a troop

concentration. in a country

we've normally considered

something of A Safe haven.

Uh We've operated in and

out Jordan for a very long

time. Uh, we have a a

tremendous relationship

with Jordan. and uh this

is really changed. uh the

math in terms of where

troops are in the region.

It's a very very

provocative move by Iran.

to allow this or to order

something like this to

happen, depending on what

exactly occurred and now

they have brought. Jordan.

into this larger conflict

and that is I mean, I'm not

going to say it's like

dominoes, Uh, but you do

look around. the uh the

Middle East and this is a

significant shift. I mean

you have you have brought

in Jordan which

geographically sits in a

very key. strategic

location? uh, it's no

longer, you know. Syria. Uh,

I think most would agree is

a a rather failed State.

It's a somewhat Lawless

territory. uh Iraq uh,

you know, it has a lot of

internal issues that

they're working on. It does

have a government in

place, but these militias

do control uh significant

swaths of land. uh in

Iraq. and yes, we have a

presence there, but we

have a very different Force

protection posture. and

some of these places that

we do in uh, Jordan

Jordan is considered a

place that normally much

safer for US troops to

operate. uh kind of a

you know, the the

quintessential rear area

if you will within the

Middle East not not like

going into Syria or

something like that. And so

this is shifted. Uh how

we're looking at and and

whereas we're going to see.

a dramatic increase in our

Force protection posture.

uh, wherever we are. in

Jordan, that's gonna that's

going to go around the

Middle East and even uh

further out. It's going to

go to uh, wherever our

forces are. certainly

throughout the Persian Gulf.

uh, Djibouti on the Red

Sea, which is probably

already at

a pretty heightened alert

status as it is. But it's

going to really shift where

US forces are in terms of.

how they view the Potential

Threat that that they're

looking at And uh, I I I

think this is going to be

1 of those moments where

we're going to use as a

benchmark. of uh, where the

US was. militarily. uh

in the Middle East and so

with at least with this

conflict. Yeah, and I guess I

want to ask you going off

of that a couple of things

that you said stood out

there but mainly how is

this going to do you

think? really change

operations in the Middle

East like you said this

is going to be a moment

That won't be forgotten.

of course, but how do you

think that could impact

things you know in the

next? several weeks several

months and Beyond? well, I I

look at it 2 different

levels, Uh 1 is the

Tactical level. I can tell

you for troops. uh anywhere

in the Middle East now.

uh, there's going to be a a

much more. Um, it's it's

what we call a uh, uh

atfp any terrorism Force

protection. Uh, but the uh,

I'm not sure what status

they were within Jordan

but uh, I have a feeling

that we're going to a much

higher status across the

board. We may end up, uh

doing something. um,

you know bilaterally with

Jordan and also with other

nations, to improve, uh

air defense capabilities. uh,

we may change some of the

Rules of engagement on how

we can use those

air defense capabilities. uh,

you know over their

Sovereign territory. Uh,

there's a lot of things that

can be happen on the

Tactical level. uh in

that regard. on the more

operational level. It's

going to make us uh, uh,

it's going to go into the

planning side. of how we

move forces in and out of

the Middle East and where

we put those forces in the

Middle East. and that's

something I I could only

speculate on. but I can

tell you right now that uh,

you know, as we're sitting

here. I know there's

operational planning teams

and Joint planning groups,

you know. uh, in in the

Middle East uh, and going

up through Tampa.

us Central Command. Probably

up in Stuart. Uh or up

in Germany with the um

with Africa command. and

uh and probably NATO

as well. and and certainly

Washington DC. all working

on this issue, which is

what's the proper response.

uh both defensively and

offensively. to what just

happened and they're all

weighing different courses

of action or developing

different courses of action.

they're doing um, you know,

my my uh history is as

an intelligence officer.

we would get tasks with uh,

a fairly significant Deep

dive if you will. looking

at everything that's out

there. Uh, building a a an

array of possible targets

for for a response. a lot of

different things so and and

then I I would be remiss

if I didn't say there's

another side which is the

Diplomatic side. and there's

the over diplomatic side

and the less over

diplomatic side And uh,

whereas we don't have

official. you know, we don't

have a diplomatic presence.

uh in Tyron. we have

ways of communicating with

Iran and I think that right

now the Iranians are

probably going to be

getting some very very

direct Communications. uh

from the US some very

direct Communications from

Jordan. is my guess. Uh,

and and I wouldn't be

surprised to see other

countries in the Middle

East Saudi Arabia and

others. uh expressing. Um,

their strong concerns about

this they'll be overt.

things said, but then

they'll also be things

that are said more

directly that are not

overt. and I imagine that

not overt stuff's going to

be. uh, uh some pretty

tough discussion with the

Iranians and they've already

had some tough discussions.

So um, there's going to be

some options on the table.

Yeah, and when it comes to

the response we heard from

President Biden who put out a

statement just a little bit

ago this morning and we'll

show viewers that again

here in just a moment, but

he has of course said that

he's vowing to hold those

responsible. for this

attack that that this is

not going to be taken

lightly. Of course, we're

going to respond so when

it comes to the response

hell and as things are

being done behind the

scenes right now working to

figure out what what the

US does from here. What

does that scale of

response look like really?

right now that's what

there's a there's probably a

Planning Group in

Washington DC. That's

LinkedIn with every other

Planning Group, but every

other level and they're going

through what can we do and

what would be proper and

and of course the most

important 1 is what the

White House? is going to

direct to be done. and

they're going to be looking

at a variety of options It

could be you know, we've

seen where we've we've hit

like a few. locations of

the enemy militias. and uh,

or and we've actually hit

uh, irgc or Iranian. uh

advisors, uh, Iranian Supply

do things like that. Uh,

in Syria, and it comes to

mind specifically but we've

also hit places in Iraq.

Uh, these are all things

that they'll be looking at.

Of course you could go

the other other end of the

spectrum we could make a

very very strong

statement. Uh, you saw what

the US did uh in Yemen.

we we we crossed the

threshold in terms of what

the houthis were doing. and

we launched a massive.

attack. in concert with the

United Kingdom. and uh,

I think there was over a

hundred different targets.

Uh, or 100 or 100 different

missions. I should say. uh

on a a large array of

targets, uh throughout

Yemen. that were hit in

the first 1 and we've been

hitting them ever since.

and so that is obviously

something that will be

discussed. uh, whether they

choose to to go with

something on a larger scale

like that. That's uh,

that's not just a military

discussion. That's also

very much a diplomatic

discussion. and it's uh

very much a a, uh,

International and National

Security discussion, which

is if we do that what

will be the response? are

we opening this? Uh are we

open up? this more

broadly? the other thing

too? Um, it's beyond just

you know, kinetics Beyond

just dropping bombs on

targets. We're also

going to be looking at the

the backer of this militia

Group, which is Iran. and

what? levers do we have?

What? pressure can we

impose on Iran? And the

fact that they went after

Jordan? um May open up a

few more uh routes

diplomatically. or

multilaterally. that we can

do things. uh to really

uh put pressure on Iran.

uh to back down and I

think that's going to be

something that they're

exploring as well. and I I

it does seem you know,

certainly when you look at

it with all these sanctions

on Iran. uh that that

exists I mean, it's easy

for most to say what more

can we do? Um, but but it's

surprising there are

a number of things out

there that we can do. uh

that could pressure Iran.

into reconsidering its

position. and I think we're

going to take a hard look

at doing something like

that. sir, and and as we're

working to get more

information here how we're

monitoring social media.

and the United States

Central Command has put out a

statement. They've said

that they're of course going

to wait to release the

names of the 3 service

members who have been

killed until 24 hours

after. their next of kin

have been notified

Meanwhile, we also know

25 others were injured in

this attack. So when

do you this we might get

more information? on the

details of this attack

hell as well as the

status of the 25 who were

injured. Well, I think

throughout the day this

just recently. happened. So

I think uh, maybe this

afternoon. or tomorrow

morning. Uh, we'll have uh

much greater detail.

in terms of what

has occurred here. Uh, I

think they'll give us

more details on the actual

attack itself. Uh, in

respect to the families. Um,

it's uh, it's DOD policy

to withhold those names.

until the families have

been fully notified and

have had a chance to uh,

uh, assess what's going on.

I mean, you know, that's

1 Thing the military has

been doing for a very long

time. and uh and you know,

we we you know, and I I say

this kind of inclusively.

uh, is that we understand

the impact that this has

and nobody wants to see

you know, you know, it's a

it's it's insult to

injury or or you know

aggravating what it's just

happened if you will to

to learn of something like

this and then to suddenly

see it on television. to

hear their loved ones

name out there eventually

it will happen eventually.

their name will be

released. but they want to

give the the families

a chance to you know,

obviously be notified but

also a little chance to

process. What's been

happening before they put

that out there and that's

something that um that's

something the Department of

Defense has been doing for

a long time. I've been at

casualty assistance care

officer. in my career. uh

more than once. and I could

tell you that there's just

a lot of uh, a lot of

things you have to be

aware of when you're when

you're notifying someone. a

family uh of of an

injury and of course the

worst 1 is when you notify

him of a of a uh, someone

being killed. Yeah,

of course, So tragic all

around it and just

interested to see if

President Biden will be

speaking again, maybe this

evening on this or

you know what we can

expect in terms of the

White House. response if

we have to wait till

tomorrow to hear from

anybody speaking on this

incident, I would hope it's

sooner than that, but I

guess we'll see you later

today. Yep. We'll see you

later today which way this

goes and uh you know, I I

will tell you I would not.

that and this is just I I

can't say for sure. But what

I can say is I don't think

we're going to wait long

before we respond. Uh,

it's daylight here. It's

night over there. And if

the assets are in place if

the missions, uh the targets

are assured. if we if we

uh feel very if we're

comfortable.

then we're heading the right

targets and we have the

right means to do it. Uh, I

would expect that

we're going to respond.

very soon and I expect

it'll be a very

strong response now. it

won't be what you saw in

Yemen. Uh, uh, with that

first big wave and I would

say that's probably because

we don't have the array of

uh of of aircraft and and

and missiles that could

allow us to do something

like that, But I will say

it will be something

probably much stronger.

than what we've seen with

some of these other uh

responses and and Iraq and

Syria today, sure, and let's

leave viewers. How with a

live picture right now.

This is out of Southern

Israel looking into. Gaza.

I guess I want to leave you

with this question how

even though we've kind of

touched on it throughout

our conversation here. How

does this impact the war

between Israel and Hamas

moving forward the US now

that 3 US service members

have been killed here. I I

think it will be a

discussion that we'll be

having with the Israelis.

Uh, and you know because

obviously this is a uh, uh,

you know, an outcome of

that. Uh, there's so much

going on. uh in Gaza

right now, uh, you know the

news today is that uh, and

and you can't you can't

really say too much but the

news is that it's very

encouraging what they're

saying about another

potential. ceasefire. Could

be I've seen 1 month I've

seen them I've seen uh, 1

proposals to be popping up

over and over again. of

uh going up to 4 months.

Uh, our our interlocutors if

you will. um cutter and

Egypt have both uh

expressed that they feel

confident that things are

moving along fast. So if

that, happens if a ceasefire

does go or a operational

pause, goes into effect.

uh, if we look at the

last uh operational pause

or temporary ceasefire,

what that did was it it

basically quieted things

across the entire region.

you know, we just didn't

see a tax and coming out of

Syria or Iraq we didn't

see a tax coming out of

Yemen. Uh that everybody

respected that so that

could be a big shift that

takes place. this

that takes more pressure

towards that although I

think we're going to want

to kinetically respond to

this particular. attack

before anything else. uh

occurs. uh, the other thing

though is, uh, and this is

kind of connected to it is

that the international court

of justice the icg icj

ruling uh you know that

was that the Hamas was

certainly hoping that they

would order. a a you know a

permanent ceasefire or an

immediate ceasefire. to

take place. that didn't

happen. In fact, the uh I

icj ruling. uh, kind of

reaffirmed. Uh, Israel's

right for self-defense. and

that may have taken some

political. and uh wind out

of the sales of Hamas. uh

out of Iran as well. but

also limits the number of

options that they have so

so we might see this. we'll

add more impetus. towards

uh, some sort of hostage.

release exchange for

prisoners. uh deal. in

Gaza that that also

results in a temporary

ceasefire. and and that

will you know, quiet things

down across the entire

region if it stays true

to form, How as always

thank you so much for your

time. and all your Insight

here. I'm sure we'll be

talking with you a lot more.

Hopefully even maybe later

today. If not into the

rest of the week as we

work to get more

information here, but how

come for a retired Marine

intelligence officer as

always? Thanks so much.

Thank you, Lexi. All right,

so we're going to continue

to follow the latest here.

Let's also show you more of

this reaction that we're

seeing on social media.

vice president Kamala

Harris putting this out on

X moments ago. saying that

Doug and I mourn the loss

of the 3 US service members

killed in Northeast Jordan

near the Syria border in a

Despicable attack by Iran

backed militant groups Our

prayers are with their loved

ones as well as those

injured these Fallen

patriots served bravely and

selflessly. wholly committed

to their fellow Americans

and the security of our

nation and our allies and

partners. our entire nation

will forever honor these

Warriors. their service and

the ultimate sacrifice.

We're also hearing from

President Biden today who has

released a statement he was

in, South Carolina earlier.

at a church service and

then released this shortly

after that. uh event

happened earlier today.

Let's pull up what he has

to say here. as well.

And this was the statement

that he had released.

saying today's today

America's heart is heavy

last night 3 US service

members were killed and and

many wounded during an

unmanned aerial drone

attack on our forces

stationed in Northeast

Jordan near the Syria

border. while we're still

Gathering the facts of this

attack. We know it was

carried out by radical Iran

backed militant groups

operating in Syria and Iraq

Jill and I joined the

families and friends of our

fallen. and Americans across

the country. in grieving

the loss of these Warriors.

in this despicable and

wholly unjust attack. the

service members embodied the

very best of our nation.

unwavering in their bravery

unflinching in their Duty

unbending in their

commitment to our country.

risking their own safety for

the safety of their fellow

Americans and our allies and

partners with whom we

stand in the fight against

terrorism. It's a fight

that we will not seize the

3 American Service members

we lost were patriots

in the highest sense and

their ultimate sacrifice.

will never be forgotten by

our nation together. We

will keep this sacred

obligation we bear to

their families we will

strive to be worthy of

their honor and Valor We

will continue to carry on

the commitment to fight

terrorism and have no

doubt. We will hold

all those responsible to

account at a time