The Pentagon recently reported a tragic incident involving a drone attack by an Iranian-backed militia on a small logistics base in Jordan. This attack, which occurred on Sunday, resulted in the death of three Army Reserve soldiers and injured over 40 other service members.
The soldiers who lost their lives were identified as Sgt. William Rivers, aged 46, Spc. Kennedy Sanders, aged 24, and Spc. Breonna Moffett, aged 23. They were all part of the 718 Engineer Company, an Army Reserve unit based in Fort Moore, Georgia.
This drone strike in Jordan is the first to result in American fatalities amidst a series of similar attacks on bases housing U.S. troops in Syria and Iraq. This surge of violence in the region has been ongoing since the conflict between Israel and Hamas escalated.
Following the attack, President Joe Biden has pledged a response from the U.S. In the immediate aftermath, Central Command reported that eight personnel sustained severe injuries requiring evacuation from Jordan. These individuals were initially taken to the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center, located at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq’s capital. Plans were made for three of the injured to be transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany for further medical care.
The incident highlights the continuing dangers faced by U.S. military personnel stationed in volatile regions and the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.