As he departed from the White House on Tuesday morning, Biden was asked by a journalist about how he plans to address the drone attack orchestrated by Iran-backed terrorists in response to the recent airstrikes on Sunday.” Biden answered simply, “Yes.”
He made the decision to act in response to the drone strike that injured over thirty soldiers, vowing to hold those accountable. Biden pledged to respond responsibly and in a manner consistent with our preferences and values.
Biden said that by arming those who carried out the strikes, Iran “will make sure they pay the price for what they’ve done” in response to a question about holding them accountable for the attack.
The incident occurred after the Israel-Hamas conflict began on October 7, resulting in the first U.S. casualties in subsequent months by extremist groups allied with Iran. Drones laden with explosives targeted a logistics support base near northeastern Jordan, where some U.S. troops were stationed. This was verified by two U.S. officials.
The U.S. Central Command announced on Sunday that eight wounded soldiers were evacuated from the country for higher-level medical care and are now stable.
Iran’s UN representative refuted accusations of participation in the area and blame for the drone assaults on the U.S. base in a statement released on Monday by the state news agency IRNA.
“Our forces are engaged in conflicts with U.S. forces and resistance groups in the region, who retaliate against attacks. We didn’t have anything to do with the drone strikes on the U.S. base,” stated the mission.
John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, informed reporters that Biden spoke with the families of the service members killed in Sunday’s attack and would attend the transfer of their remains at Dover Air Force Base on Friday.
The President shared a mix of pride and sadness as he reassured the families, letting them know he truly values the service of their loved ones. He emphasized that they would have the support they need since they have dedicated themselves to something greater than mere service, while also acknowledging the sacrifices made.
“No Blue Star family asks to become a Gold Star family,” he emphasized.