The Israel-Hamas war is slowly but surely escalating. The death of three US service members by a drone attack at the Tower 22 outpost in northeast Jordan on Sunday, January 28, in which 38 others were injured, is a clear reflection of this.
President Joe Biden squarely laid the blame for the attacks on Iran-sponsored militias that operate across the region. Both he and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin have vowed to avenge the deaths.
Around 3,000 US troops are stationed in Jordan. US troops also remain stationed in northeast Syria and in Iraq, since 2003.
Since war broke out between Israel and Hamas on October 7, when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel killing 1,200 people and taking hundreds of hostages, US troops have come under regular attacks in Syria and Iraq by Iran-backed militias, who call themselves the "Axis of Resistance ". There have been at least 164 such attacks on US troops, who have responded back. But this is the first attack aimed at Jordan, claimed by the militant group "The Islamic Resistance in Iraq".
The deaths of the US service members is serious and, with an election year in the US, is sure to mount pressure on President Joe Biden to respond. This also comes after a devastating terror attack inside Iran earlier this month claimed by ISIS. US officials, however, are unanimous in their opinion that Iran does not want war with the US.
The Gaza war is already having a rippling effect globally. The shadow war between Iran and Israel has seen Iran-backed Hezbollah open up another front with Israel. The Iran-sponsored Houthi militants in Yemen have been targeting shipping in the Red Sea "in solidarity with Palestinian brothers" and have said they would continue to do so till Israel stops its bombardment of Gaza which has claimed 25,000 civilian lives till date.
Read | Joe Biden vows US 'shall respond' after troops killed in Jordan
The Houthi attacks have resulted in billions of dollars of losses in global shipping and trade. The US-UK alliance deployed naval forces through “Operation Prosperity Guardian” in the Red Sea but the ensuing airstrikes on Yemen have not blunted the Houthi firepower. Two US Navy Seals also lost their lives in the Red Sea.
The US is the only power that has consistently vetoed UN resolutions for a ceasefire in Gaza. Yet that may be the only way out as the war is slowly but surely escalating and the US risks getting sucked into another quagmire without an exit plan.
Aditi Bhaduri is a journalist and political analyst. Views are personal, and do not represent the stance of this publication.
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