1. JaFaJ has learned from Western military sources stationed in Jordan that the drone attack that targeted the US military base in Jordan, Tower 22, was carried out using A Shahed-136 kamikaze drone. According to the sources, the Iranian-manufactured drone targeted the soldiers while they were eating dinner at the base’s chow hall. The sources noted that this “underscores the fact that whoever fired the drone had good intelligence about when and where to cause significant damage”. [COMMENT: Tower 22 is one of several American bases in Jordan. Located in the North Eastern part of Jordan, Tower 22 is the closest American outpost to the Syrian borders. END COMMENT]
2. The sources noted that Tower 22 is covered by “proper air defense systems”, but failed to detect the drone because it originated from within the Jordanian territories. Apparently the air defense systems were focused on scanning the skies above the Iraqi and Syrian borders, and not Jordanian skies. An American intelligence source refused to confirm the kamikaze drone had come from within Jordan and reported to JaFaJ that the matter was being “closely examined and investigated by the United States Central Command.” The source added that “We cannot rule anything out at this moment”.
3. The sources confirmed reports circulating in the media that 3 US soldiers were killed and 25 injured. The sources added that “the two servicemen were in severely critical condition,” and therefore the number of causalities might increase.
4. Comment: The attack comes at very tense times, as the war between Hamas and Israel rages in Gaza following Hamas’ incursion into Israel’s borders on October 7, 2023. In that attack, more than 1,200 Israeli civilians were killed. Because the region expects an expansion of Israel’s war with the Iranian-backed militias in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, the attack on US troops in Jordan is likely to invoke a staunch American military response against Iran’s militias in both Syria and Iraq. Military action, as expected, will only increase King Abduallah of Jordan’s desire for militarily engaging his troops inside Syria, allegedly in the name of “fighting drug smugglers and inflators,” a pitch the King has been promoting for months.