Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Monday expressed “outrage and sadness” over the killing of three U.S. soldiers by an Iranian-backed terrorist group in Jordan.
Austin made the comments at the beginning of a bilateral meeting with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg at the Pentagon. Mr. Austin also vowed to take action against Iran and its terrorist proxies.
“I want to start with my anger and sadness for the deaths of three brave American soldiers in Jordan and the others who were injured,” Austin said. “The President and I will not condone attacks on U.S. troops and will take whatever action is necessary to protect America and our troops.”
The Pentagon meeting was Austin’s first day back in the office after nearly a month of medical leave. Austin was hospitalized for nearly two weeks in early January. He was discharged from the hospital on January 15th and began working from home until Monday.
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Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Monday expressed “outrage and sadness” over the killing of three U.S. soldiers by an Iranian-backed terrorist group in Jordan. (Reuters/Violeta Santos Moura)
“I’m glad to be back at the Department of Defense at this critical time,” Austin said. “I’m feeling well and recovering well, but I’m still recovering. I’m grateful for all the goodwill I’ve received.” Ta. .
A drone attack on U.S. forces in Jordan killed three U.S. service members and injured at least 34 others. The attack hit a US military outpost near the Syrian border known as Tower 22.
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White House President Biden said Sunday morning that he had been briefed on the attack by Austin, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and National Security Adviser John Finer. This is the first time a U.S. soldier has been killed by enemy fire in the Middle East, marking a serious escalation. Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7th.
President Biden was briefed on the attack in Jordan on Sunday morning by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, and National Security Adviser John Finer. (Yuri Gripas/Abaka/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Since Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip began, U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria have faced more than 160 drone and missile attacks on their bases, but Sunday marked the first American fatality.
FOX News’ Daniel Wallace contributed to this report
