Enemy drone possibly mistaken for friendly in Jordan base attack

U.S. officials on Monday said that forces at the Tower 22 installation in Jordan may have mistaken an enemy drone for a U.S. drone returning to the base, according to initial reports. Officials said a U.S. drone was returning to the base at the same time as the enemy drone was inbound for its attack. The attack killed three U.S. troops and wounded more than 40 others.

Was this human error or computer error? Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh on Monday said U.S. Central Command was still investigating the incident. The Department of Defense reported many of those wounded sustained only minor injuries, but U.S. forces evacuated several individuals for treatment of more severe injuries.

How is the administration planning to respond? The Biden administration has promised retaliation but has also said it does not want war with Iran. U.S. officials have accused Iran of supporting the militia group that executed the attack. Iran has said it had no connection to the attack and that the militia groups in the region act of their own volition against U.S. troops. Iranian proxy forces in the region have attacked U.S. military installations in the Middle East more than 150 times in recent months. The United States has responded with airstrikes on some targets in Iraq and Syria. Republicans in Congress have urged the Biden administration to do more to protect U.S. soldiers.

Dig deeper: Read R. Albert Mohler Jr.’s column in WORLD Opinions about whether or not the United States is prepared to confront a new “Axis of Evil” that includes Iran.