The Pentagon says the Israel-Hamas war has spread across the Middle East, even as a new attack by an Iranian-backed militia on a military base in Jordan killed three U.S. soldiers and injured dozens more over the weekend. I haven’t seen it.
Since Oct. 17, a loose coalition of Iranian-backed militias has carried out more than 160 attacks against U.S. targets in Iraq and Syria. The groups say the attack is in retaliation for the United States’ support for Israel’s ongoing offensive against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
The US military base in northeastern Jordan, known as Tower 22, is seen in this satellite photo taken on October 12, 2023. A drone attack on January 28, 2024 killed three US soldiers and injured another. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)
The recent attack in Jordan was the first time a U.S. soldier was killed and marked a significant escalation in violence and an expansion in scope.
On Monday, Sabrina Singh, deputy Pentagon spokeswoman, said it is not the Pentagon’s view that the Israel-Hamas war is extending beyond Gaza.
IDF announces Israeli military will destroy Hamas tunnel system built under cemetery
“You can’t say that the conflict is escalating because we’ve seen over 100 attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, and of course now in Jordan,” Singh said. “We don’t want this conflict to escalate. We don’t think it will because this conflict still remains contained in Gaza.”
She acknowledged that the attacks had “escalated” in that three American servicemen were killed.
“We don’t want to see an escalation of regional wars. But we will respond at a time and place of our own choosing,” Singh said.
LR: Sergeant William Rivers, Special Corp. Breonna Moffett and Spc. Kennedy Sanders. (Fox News)
During a visit to South Carolina on Sunday, President Biden said the United States “will respond.”
“We had a tough day last night in the Middle East,” Biden said. “We lost three brave souls in an attack on one of our bases.”
Israeli Foreign Ministry demands UNRWA commissioner resign over suspicion of staff supporting Hamas
The president said in a written statement that the United States “will hold all those responsible accountable at once, in the manner we choose.”
Earlier on Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States had clearly warned “those who seek to exploit the conflict in the Middle East to escalate conflict, absolutely not.”
Since October 17, there have been more than 160 attacks on US targets in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan. (Fox News)
“We have taken steps not only to prevent escalation, but to protect ourselves and our partners,” Blinken said. “The president has been clear: We will respond decisively to any invasion, and we will hold accountable those who attack our troops. We will do so at a time and place of our choosing. Let’s go.”
According to the Pentagon, there have been 165 attacks since Oct. 17 in Iraq, Syria, and now Jordan. Of these, 66 were in Iraq, 98 in Syria and one in Jordan.
Two ISIS members arrested in Turkish church attack, one reportedly killed
In the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas war, spread to the Red Sea There, Yemen-based Houthi militants have been firing on commercial ships for months, forcing them to reroute at exorbitant costs. The extremists say their actions are to protect Palestinians under siege in Gaza.
Ongoing attacks in the Red Sea have prompted the United States and its allies to attack Houthi targets in Yemen.
FILE: This photo provided by the Indian Navy shows the U.S.-owned ship Jenko Picardie attacked by a bomb-laden drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden, Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. ing. (Indian Navy, via AP)
Singh said there was nothing “unusual or new” about the attack in Jordan compared to previous attacks in Iraq and Syria.
“We cannot ignore the fact that other attacks, whether in Iraq or Syria, were not aimed at killing military personnel,” she said.
Singh reiterated that the United States is not seeking war with Iran and does not want to escalate the conflict.
“We are aware of the fact that Iran is funding and equipping these organizations and providing them with capabilities that they can use to attack our military personnel, whether in Iraq, Syria or Jordan. I have said this in the past, and I will continue to do so.” “So we will not hesitate to advocate for that.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The Pentagon said more than 40 people were injured in a weekend attack on a small desert facility known as Tower 22 in Jordan. At least eight people were medically evacuated, with the most seriously injured service member in serious but stable condition.
