By Ohuakanwa Chibuzo
Tehran distanced itself from the drone attack on a US base in Jordan that resulted in the deaths of three service members and left over 30 wounded, as stated by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Monday.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an amalgamation of Islamist Shia militias, claimed responsibility for the strike on the outpost, known as Tower 22, located near the Jordanian-Syrian border, according to reports from RT.
President Joe Biden attributed the attack to “radical Iran-backed militant groups,” while numerous US politicians directly accused Tehran. UK Foreign Minister David Cameron echoed similar sentiments, urging Iran to de-escalate tensions in the region.
Kanaani reiterated Iran’s stance, asserting that regional resistance groups operate independently, responding to perceived war crimes and genocide based on their own principles and interests, distinct from directives from Tehran.
In response to the deaths of American personnel, Biden pledged a retaliation, stating, “We will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing.”
The attack in Jordan coincided with expressions of solidarity from Shia groups in the region towards Palestinians, condemning Israel’s assault on Gaza. Hezbollah in Lebanon launched rockets and mortar shells into Israel, while Yemen’s Houthis targeted merchant ships sailing through the Red Sea with missiles and drones.
In light of the escalating situation, the US and UK initiated strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on January 12, citing the imperative to safeguard international shipping routes.
On Wednesday, US forces carried out airstrikes against three locations in western Iraq associated with the Kataib Hezbollah group, which claimed responsibility for previous attacks on US military installations in Iraq and Syria.
