Amman, Jordan – President Biden has pledged a response following a drone strike on a small American base known as Tower 22 in Jordan, near the Syrian border. The attack, which claimed the lives of three U.S. soldiers, is believed to have been carried out by the Iran-backed group Islamic Resistance in Iraq. However, it remains unclear why this group targeted a U.S. base and how it is connected to Iran.
There are approximately 40 militant groups in the Middle East that receive support from Iran, including the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon. These groups play a significant role in maintaining the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad. They are prepared to act in the event of an uprising in Syria that threatens the regime. Additionally, these groups closely monitor U.S. activities in the region, as Washington supported Syrian opposition groups during the civil war.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq operates along the Syria-Jordan border and consists of multiple subgroups. While some focus on smuggling drugs or weapons, others engage in attacks against domestic and international forces in the region. The group identifies itself as answering to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamanei, and boasts of its military involvement outside of Iraq, particularly in Syria.
Iran supports these militant groups in various ways. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a separate entity from Iran’s conventional military, often funds and operates closely with these groups. Other groups have their own operational structures but rely on Iran for support, including weapons and funding. The IRGC plays a crucial role in influencing the overall strategy of these groups and provides weapons, such as drones, for attacks like the one on Tower 22.
The recent attack on Tower 22 is seen as an escalation by these Iran-backed groups. They perceive the conflict in the region as connected to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. The aim of the attack was to target the U.S. presence in support of Israel. Iran has denied any involvement in the attack, but it is believed that Iran can afford to let lower-level militants escalate against the U.S. or Israel without direct conflict.
In response to the attack, President Biden has pledged retaliation while emphasizing the importance of avoiding a wider conflict in the region. The U.S. is committed to protecting its deployed forces but does not seek another war. As tensions remain high, various militias within the Islamic Resistance in Iraq have evacuated their bases in Iraq and Syria, fearing U.S. retaliatory strikes.
The attack on Tower 22 highlights the complex dynamics in the Middle East and the interconnectedness of different conflicts. As the U.S. assesses the situation and determines its response, the region remains on edge, with the potential for further escalation.