Washington Post: 'Islamic Resistance in Iraq' Claims Responsibility for Attack on US Military Base

Following a drone attack on a US military base at the Jordan-Syria border that resulted in the deaths of at least three American soldiers, the Washington Post reported that 'Islamic Resistance in Iraq,' composed of several Iranian-backed militia groups, has claimed responsibility for the attack. According to the report, a senior official from the 'Islamic Resistance in Iraq' told the American newspaper: 'As we have said before, if the United States continues to support Israel, tensions will escalate. All American interests in the region are legitimate targets, and we do not care about America's threats to retaliate; we are aware of the path we have taken, and martyrdom is our reward.' The Islamic Resistance in Iraq is made up of several subgroups, including 'Kata'ib Hezbollah' and 'Nujaba Movement,' which are heavily supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran and began their attacks on American forces in 2018, after then-President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the nuclear agreement known as the JCPOA. However, a US government official told CNN that the United States is still carefully assessing which group was responsible for the attack on Sunday against the soldiers at the military base in Jordan. President Joe Biden, who was campaigning in South Carolina, responded to the deadly attack by Iranian-backed militants that resulted in the deaths of three American soldiers in northeastern Jordan, stating that 'we will respond.' On Sunday, just hours before this statement, he released a statement saying: 'Last night, three American soldiers stationed in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border were killed and many others wounded in a drone attack by extremist militia groups supported by Iran. We are in the process of gathering facts about this attack, but we know it was carried out by militia groups supported by Tehran that are active in Syria and Iraq.' Vice President Kamala Harris also expressed condolences for the deaths of the three American soldiers 'in the heinous attack by Iranian-backed militia groups,' adding: 'As President Biden has clearly stated, we will continue to fight terrorism and hold accountable all those responsible.' Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House, reacted to the Sunday attack by stating that the United States must send a clear message to the world that attacks on its soldiers will not be tolerated. Mitch McConnell, the Republican minority leader in the Senate, also expressed sympathy for the families of the three American soldiers killed by 'Tehran-backed terrorists,' stating: 'Our enemies have become bolder, and they will remain so unless the United States imposes serious and crippling costs not only on the terrorist proxy groups at the forefront but also on their supporters in Iran who take pride in shedding American blood.' Ted Cruz, a Republican senator from Texas, criticized Biden's policies, stating that the killing of Qassem Soleimani by the Trump administration sent a message to the Islamic Republic that there is no difference between the Revolutionary Guard and its proxies, but the Biden administration has once again restored 'impunity' to the Revolutionary Guard. Marco Rubio, a Republican senator from Florida, reposted a message on social media platform X, stating that he had warned the Biden administration two months ago that if it did not impose 'direct consequences' on the Islamic Republic of Iran, these attacks would expand beyond Syria and Iraq and result in the deaths of Americans. Reuters, in its latest update, reported that about 34 American soldiers injured in the drone attack on Sunday by Iranian-affiliated militants in northeastern Jordan are under observation for 'potential traumatic brain injuries.' The Jordanian government also condemned the 'terrorist attack' on a military base at its border with Syria, which resulted in the deaths of three American soldiers and injuries to dozens, stating that it will cooperate with Washington in the fight against terrorism.