Iran Denies Claims of Involvement in Drone Attack on US Base

Iran has denied claims of its involvement in a drone attack on a US base near Jordan's border with Syria that killed three US troops. and wounded 25 others.

The US blamed the attack on "radical Iranian-backed militant groups" and vowed to 'respond' to the attack. 

Although, there have been other attacks on US bases in the region before Sunday, this is the first time that a strike has killed US troops in the region since Hamas's 7 October attack on Israel, according to the US military.

President Biden said that the US "will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing".

Iran denied US and British accusations that it supported militant groups blamed for the strike.

The foreign ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanaani noted that "these claims are made with specific political goals to reverse the realities of the region."

"Jill and I join the families and friends of our fallen and Americans across the country in grieving the loss of these warriors in this despicable and wholly unjust attack," Mr Biden said in a statement.

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According to US officials, at least 34 military personnel were being evaluated for possible traumatic brain injury, and that some of the injured soldiers were medically evacuated from the base for further treatment.

They also say the drone struck the living quarters, which, if confirmed, could explain the high number of casualties.

In December, US officials noted that US bases in Iraq and Syria had been attacked at least 97 times since 17 October.

Last month, the US carried out airstrikes against Iran-affiliated groups after three US servicemembers were injured, one critically, in a drone attack on a base in northern Iraq.

Earlier in January, US retaliatory strike in Baghdad killed a militia leader accused of being behind attacks on US personnel.