Tower 22 is located at the most northeastern point where its borders meet Syria and Iraq
Three troops from the United States were killed and over 30 were wounded after a drone hit a military outpost known as Tower 22 in Jordan on Sunday, News18 reported.
Following the strike, President Joe Biden said that the United States “will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner (of) our choosing.”
Sunday’s attack struck the logistics support base located at Tower 22 of the Jordanian Defense Network which holds a strategically important location, in Jordan, at the most northeastern point where the country’s borders meet Syria and Iraq.
“There are approximately 350 US Army and Air Force personnel deployed to the base, conducting several key support functions,” the US Central Command said in a statement adding that the troops also provide “support to the coalition for the lasting defeat of ISIS.”
Tower 22 is located near the Al Tanf garrison in Syria, which houses US troops. Tanf has been crucial in the fight against Daesh and is part of a US strategy to contain Iran’s military build-up in eastern Syria, according to Reuters.
The base could potentially support US troops, counter Iran-backed fighters in the area and allow troops to keep an eye on remnants of Daesh in the region.
US media reports reveal Jordan’s army is a significant recipient of US foreign military financing, with hundreds of US trainers and extensive exercises with US troops.
Since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Washington has spent millions to help Amman establish the Border Security Programme, a surveillance system to prevent “infiltration by Syrian and Iraqi militants”.
However, the type of weapons kept at the base, air defences used, and what exactly went wrong remains a mystery.
Furthermore, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said: “We will take all necessary actions to defend the United States, our troops, and our interests.”
