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The three U.S. soldiers killed in the drone attack on a U.S. military outpost in Jordan were identified Monday as Sgt. William Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Georgia; Specialist Kennedy Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Georgia; and Specialist Breonna Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia, according to the Defense Department.They were all assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, a US Army Reserve unit based out of Fort Moore, Georgia, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said at a briefing.Singh said more than 40 were injured in the attack, a number that could possibly continue to increase. She said the high number of casualties was because the drone hit a housing facility on the base where many service members were still sleeping in the early morning hours.Singh said on Monday that eight personnel who were medically evacuated were taken to Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center. Three of those service members will be transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center for follow-on care and the other five are expected to return to duty after being assessed for mild traumatic brain injuries. A US official previously told CNN that all eight had been evacuated to Landstuhl. The drone approached the U.S. military outpost, Tower 22, around the same time an American drone was returning to the base, which led to uncertainty over whether it was hostile and caused a delay to the U.S. response, two U.S. officials told CNN.The enemy drone followed the American drone as it approached, but it is not clear whether the enemy drone intentionally followed the American one or if it was a coincidence, one of the officials said. The enemy drone also flew low, which may have allowed it to evade the base’s air defenses, officials said. U.S. officials are also still assessing the drone’s point of origin.The attack on Sunday marked a significant escalation after roughly 165 attacks on U.S. and coalition forces since Oct. 17, further raising concerns over a broader conflict breaking out in the Middle East while the U.S. and its allies navigate rising tensions on multiple fronts. A U.S. official told CNN that there have been six attacks since Friday, including Sunday’s drone attack and a multi-rocket attack on Patrol Base Shaddadi in Syria on Monday morning. While Iran-backed militia groups have launched continuous attacks on U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria — leading to one serious injury and dozens of others that officials have described as fairly minor — the U.S. has also been taking action against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen for their attacks on commercial shipping. Meanwhile, Israel is continuing its campaign in Gaza against Hamas, and launching attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon.The consensus is that an Iran-backed militia group is behind the deadly drone attack, though the U.S. is still working to determine which group specifically is responsible. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told CNN’s Phil Mattingly on Monday that the White House believes “the group was supported by Kataib Hezbollah, which is one of the main IRGC Revolutionary Guard-core backed groups in Iraq and Syria.”“This one had lethal consequences in ways that previous ones didn’t,” Kirby said, “but that doesn’t mean that the intent of the previous attacks weren’t also lethal, it’s just that we were able to defeat them.”Video below: President Joe Biden spoke about the drone attack in Jordan on SundayThe U.S. has already struck sites in Iraq associated with the group in recent weeks, and earlier this month targeted a member of the group that a U.S. official said had “U.S. blood on his hands.”On Monday morning ahead of a meeting at the Pentagon with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed his “outrage and sorrow” over the deaths of the three American troops.“Let me start with my outrage and sorrow for the death of three brave U.S. troops in Jordan, and for the other troops who were wounded,” Austin said. “The President and I will not tolerate attacks on U.S. forces, and we will take all necessary actions to defend the U.S. and our troops.” On Monday, leaders in Ware County, Georgia, issued a proclamation honoring Sanders and issuing all flags be flown at half-mast until sunset the day of her internment, according to sister station WJCL.The proclamation, in part, reads: “Her unwavering commitment to defending our nation and protecting the freedoms we hold dear will forever be etched in our hearts and memories. Her sacrifice will not be forgotten, and his service will be forever honored. …Her sacrifice reminds us of the profound debt of gratitude we owe to those who selflessly serve our country.”Video below: Waycross soldier remembered after deadly Jordan drone strikeWith all three of the soldiers who were killed being from the state, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp issued a statement saying, “Marty, the girls, and I are all saddened to learn of the deaths of three service members based out of Georgia. These soldiers gave the last full measure of devotion in service to this country. This inexcusable loss of life and the attack from terrorists that resulted in these casualties is a reminder of why we stand with the friends of liberty. The entire Kemp family asks that Georgians everywhere join us in keeping the loved ones of those lost in this attack in our thoughts and prayers in the days ahead.”
The three U.S. soldiers killed in the drone attack on a U.S. military outpost in Jordan were identified Monday as Sgt. William Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Georgia; Specialist Kennedy Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Georgia; and Specialist Breonna Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia, according to the Defense Department.
They were all assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, a US Army Reserve unit based out of Fort Moore, Georgia, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said at a briefing.
Singh said more than 40 were injured in the attack, a number that could possibly continue to increase. She said the high number of casualties was because the drone hit a housing facility on the base where many service members were still sleeping in the early morning hours.
Singh said on Monday that eight personnel who were medically evacuated were taken to Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center. Three of those service members will be transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center for follow-on care and the other five are expected to return to duty after being assessed for mild traumatic brain injuries. A US official previously told CNN that all eight had been evacuated to Landstuhl.
The drone approached the U.S. military outpost, Tower 22, around the same time an American drone was returning to the base, which led to uncertainty over whether it was hostile and caused a delay to the U.S. response, two U.S. officials told CNN.
The enemy drone followed the American drone as it approached, but it is not clear whether the enemy drone intentionally followed the American one or if it was a coincidence, one of the officials said. The enemy drone also flew low, which may have allowed it to evade the base’s air defenses, officials said. U.S. officials are also still assessing the drone’s point of origin.
The attack on Sunday marked a significant escalation after roughly 165 attacks on U.S. and coalition forces since Oct. 17, further raising concerns over a broader conflict breaking out in the Middle East while the U.S. and its allies navigate rising tensions on multiple fronts. A U.S. official told CNN that there have been six attacks since Friday, including Sunday’s drone attack and a multi-rocket attack on Patrol Base Shaddadi in Syria on Monday morning.
While Iran-backed militia groups have launched continuous attacks on U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria — leading to one serious injury and dozens of others that officials have described as fairly minor — the U.S. has also been taking action against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen for their attacks on commercial shipping. Meanwhile, Israel is continuing its campaign in Gaza against Hamas, and launching attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The consensus is that an Iran-backed militia group is behind the deadly drone attack, though the U.S. is still working to determine which group specifically is responsible. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told CNN’s Phil Mattingly on Monday that the White House believes “the group was supported by Kataib Hezbollah, which is one of the main IRGC Revolutionary Guard-core backed groups in Iraq and Syria.”
“This one had lethal consequences in ways that previous ones didn’t,” Kirby said, “but that doesn’t mean that the intent of the previous attacks weren’t also lethal, it’s just that we were able to defeat them.”
Video below: President Joe Biden spoke about the drone attack in Jordan on Sunday
The U.S. has already struck sites in Iraq associated with the group in recent weeks, and earlier this month targeted a member of the group that a U.S. official said had “U.S. blood on his hands.”
On Monday morning ahead of a meeting at the Pentagon with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed his “outrage and sorrow” over the deaths of the three American troops.
“Let me start with my outrage and sorrow for the death of three brave U.S. troops in Jordan, and for the other troops who were wounded,” Austin said. “The President and I will not tolerate attacks on U.S. forces, and we will take all necessary actions to defend the U.S. and our troops.”
On Monday, leaders in Ware County, Georgia, issued a proclamation honoring Sanders and issuing all flags be flown at half-mast until sunset the day of her internment, according to sister station WJCL.
The proclamation, in part, reads: “Her unwavering commitment to defending our nation and protecting the freedoms we hold dear will forever be etched in our hearts and memories. Her sacrifice will not be forgotten, and his service will be forever honored. …Her sacrifice reminds us of the profound debt of gratitude we owe to those who selflessly serve our country.”
Video below: Waycross soldier remembered after deadly Jordan drone strike
With all three of the soldiers who were killed being from the state, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp issued a statement saying, “Marty, the girls, and I are all saddened to learn of the deaths of three service members based out of Georgia. These soldiers gave the last full measure of devotion in service to this country. This inexcusable loss of life and the attack from terrorists that resulted in these casualties is a reminder of why we stand with the friends of liberty. The entire Kemp family asks that Georgians everywhere join us in keeping the loved ones of those lost in this attack in our thoughts and prayers in the days ahead.”
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