Convoy heading towards Israel border with Lebanon as Middle East braces for war
The Middle East was braced for war between US and Iran-backed forces on Monday night after a drone strike killed three American soldiers.
Another 34 soldiers were injured when a remote US outpost in Jordan was hit by increasingly aggressive pro-Iranian militia who are based in Syria. President Joe Biden vowed the US “shall respond” to the attack on logistics base Tower 22 on Sunday. It is believed Tehran-backed groups behind about three months of attacks on US and UK sites have been ordered to relocate to avoid airstrikes.
Around 150 missiles, including rockets, drones and ballistic weapons have been fired towards western targets in Syria and Iraq in that time. Threats worsened after October 7 in response to US and UK support for Israel in its war against Gaza-based Hamas fighters. More than 26,000 people have been killed in Gaza.
President Joe Biden vowed the US “shall respond” to the attack (AFP via Getty Images)The Mirror also understands a large number of logistics convoys are heading towards Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, possibly a warning that a new front will open up. Israel’s war cabinet is considering sending troops into southern Lebanon to try and drive Hezbollah forces back. Weeks of cross-border missile attacks have meant as many as 80,000 Israelis have had to be evacuated from their homes.
On Monday Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “We are concerned and would urge Iran to continue to de-escalate tensions. We absolutely condemn what has happened.” US officials found one of several Iranian-aligned groups attacked its troops. One said the reason the drone was not shot down may have been because it was mistaken for a returning US one.
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The aftermath of an Israeli strike in Syria (Anadolu via Getty Images)Mr Biden vowed to “hold those responsible to account at a time and in a manner [of] our choosing”. Donald Trump, who is likely to challenge Mr Biden in November’s presidential election, used the deaths to score political points. He said: “Three years ago Iran was weak, broke and under control thanks to my maximum pressure policy. This attack would never have happened if I was president, not a chance.” Foreign Secretary David Cameron condemned attacks by “Iran-aligned militia groups” and urged Tehran to de-escalate. He said: “Our thoughts are with those US personnel and their families.”
US forces have long used Jordan as a base. Iran, led by hardline cleric Ayatollah Khamenei, has denied any involvement in the attack. Since Hamas attacked Israel, Iran-backed militias have struck US military installations in Iraq over 60 times. In Syria, they have struck over 90 times with drones, rockets, mortars and ballistic missiles.
The US has hit back in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, and also targeted Iran-backed Houthis attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea. A relatively new group called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq is believed to be behind the attack on US forces. It is an Iran-backed mix of pro-Iranian militia which includes branches of Hezbollah.
The group is behind several attacks on the base in north east Jordan and other US targets throughout Syria and Iraq in recent months. It is believed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard troops are embedded with the IRI. Its aim is to use the October 7 war in support of Hamas to force US forces out of Syria and Iraq. A security source said: “This group is a proxy of Iran and Tehran wields control over it. It is becoming difficult for America not to escalate in its response.”
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