As of: January 31, 2024, 4:53 a.m
By: Felix Busjaeger
Comments
Press
Split
The drone attack in Jordan on US soldiers has worsened the situation in the Middle East.
The USA wants retaliation - but not conflict with Iran.
Washington – The spiral of violence in the Middle East is constantly turning – and could lead to further escalation.
After the deadly drone attack in Jordan that killed and injured US soldiers on Sunday (January 28), experts expect a violent retaliation from the Americans.
At the same time, the government led by US President Joe Biden made it clear that it would not seek escalation with Iran because of the attacks by pro-Iranian militias.
The drone attack still has the potential to expand the war in the Middle East.
USA does not want war with Iran: Attack on US base in Jordan significantly worsens situation
The drone attack on the US base in Jordan probably resulted from a fatal misjudgment by the US military: As the
Wall Street Journal
and the
New York Times
reported, among others, the enemy drone approached the base at the same time as a US surveillance drone.
It was therefore unclear whether it was a friendly drone or an enemy drone.
This uncertainty ultimately claimed the lives of three US soldiers, and at least 34 others are said to have been injured.
Joe Biden announced retaliatory strikes shortly after the militia attack.
After the attack on a US base in Jordan in which US soldiers died, the situation in the Middle East remains tense.
US Secretary of State Blinken (r) gave an assessment of the situation together with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
© Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP/dpa
According to
CNN,
these responses could likely be more severe than previous American retaliatory strikes in Iraq and Syria.
Citing government officials, it said Biden is under increasing pressure to stop attacks on US bases.
Since Hamas' attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Israel, Iran-backed militias have attacked US military facilities in Iraq and Syria more than 160 times.
Several Republicans in US politics have already called for taking direct action against Iran to send a clear message.
US soldiers killed in attack on base: USA wants to avoid escalation with Iran
However, after the deadly attack on the US base in Jordan, the US government made it abundantly clear that it was not seeking escalation with Iran.
“We are not looking for a war with Iran.
We do not seek conflict with the regime through military means,” National Security Council Communications Director John Kirby said in Washington on Monday.
At the same time, he made it clear: “But we will do what is necessary to protect ourselves, to continue this mission and to respond appropriately to these attacks.”
“We know Iran is behind this,” said Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh.
Iran is responsible because it finances these groups that operated in Iraq and Syria and carried out attacks on US soldiers.
According to the White House, Biden met with his crisis team in the Situation Room, the operations center in the West Wing of the White House, on both Sunday and Monday.
In the possible retaliation, the United States will proceed according to a timetable that seems right to those responsible.
Situation in the Middle East as dangerous as 1973: Blinken warns of instability after drone attacks in Jordan
According to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the situation in the Middle East is more dangerous than it has been for a long time.
“I maintain that we have not experienced a situation as dangerous as this in the entire region since at least 1973 – perhaps even before that,” he said at a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
According to the
German Press Agency,
Blinken was referring to the year of the 19-day Yom Kippur War, which began on October 6, 1973, when an alliance of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria unexpectedly attacked Israel.
At that time, more than 2,600 Israeli soldiers were killed and more than 7,000 were injured.
My news
Explosive report from the USA: Americans are struggling with German Leopard 2 tanks
“Lost interest in the topic”: Aiwanger is criticized after outrage over left-wing extremism
Devastating survey for the traffic light – what Germans think of refugee policy read
Russian Ilyushin intercepted off Rügen – Putin's military plane has special equipment
Russia reacts to major NATO maneuvers – and threatens “tragic consequences” read
Risk “very high”: Austria warns of attack from Russiaread
Blinken warned against attempts to exploit the conflict in the Middle East to sow further instability.
We will respond decisively to any aggression.
At the same time, Blinken emphasized that the US government's goal was to prevent escalation in the region.
“It is important to us to do both: stand up for our people when they are under attack and prevent the conflict from growing and spreading.”
Reaction to attack on US base in Jordan: “President’s red line crossed”
According to
CNN
, the US government's biggest challenge now is how to respond to the drone attack on the base in Jordan without igniting a conflagration that drags the entire region into a regional war.
Retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling said the deaths of U.S. soldiers "certainly crossed the president's red line" and could result in severe retaliation.
Both officials and analysts expect a significant U.S. response to the deadly drone attack in Jordan, which will not necessarily be limited to one country or one day.
At the same time, it is repeatedly emphasized that it is unlikely that the United States will strike inside Iran.
The US base called “Tower 22”.
Three US soldiers were killed in an attack there.
© dpa
Retaliation for drone attack on USA: Iran could interpret reaction as weakness
A possible scenario for US retaliation could be that Joe Biden decides to attack the militant groups in Iraq, Syria or both countries again.
It is also likely that the US could take action against the leadership of the regional militias.
According to Kirby, every reaction is about “de-escalation and a reduction in tensions”.
While the U.S. ultimately blames Iran for the attacks given Tehran's financial and military support for its proxy groups, there is no evidence yet that Iran explicitly staged Sunday's deadly attack or intended it as a deliberate escalation against the U.S.
Nevertheless, the USA is also under pressure: According to Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Iran could also interpret proportionate and limited retaliation by the Americans as weakness.
“If everything is conscious and proportionate, it creates an incentive for people to go to the red line and make sure that they know exactly where that red line is.” (fbu/dpa)