Three U.S. service members have been killed and dozens wounded throughout an unmanned aerial drone assault on U.S. forces stationed in northeastern Jordan close to the Syrian border, President Joe Biden and U.S. officers mentioned on Sunday.

Biden blamed Iran-backed teams for the assault.

“While we are still gathering the facts of this attack, we know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq,” Biden mentioned in a press release.

At least 34 personnel have been being evaluated for attainable traumatic mind damage, a U.S. official instructed Reuters.

“While we’re still gathering facts, this is most assuredly the work of an Iranian-backed militia group,” a second official mentioned.

The deaths marked the primary fatalities of U.S. troops within the area since struggle started in Gaza. Biden mentioned the assault occurred on Saturday evening.

The assault is a serious escalation of the already tense scenario within the Middle East, the place struggle broke out in Gaza after Palestinian Islamist group Hamas’ assault on Israel on Oct. 7 which killed 1,200. Israel’s subsequent assault on Gaza has killed over 26,000 Palestinians, in keeping with the native well being ministry.

While the United States has up to now maintained an official line that Washington is just not at struggle within the area, it has made strikes towards targets of Yemen’s Houthi teams which have been attacking business vessels within the Red Sea.

“We will carry on their commitment to fight terrorism. And have no doubt – we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing,” Biden mentioned in his assertion launched by the White House.