Drone strike killed three U.S. service members in Jordan
Yesterday, three U.S. service members were killed in Jordan, and at least 34 others were injured in a drone strike by an Iran-backed militia. This incident marked the first U.S. military fatalities from hostile fire in the aftermath of Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza.
The attack took place near the Syrian border, adding to the growing turmoil in the Middle East. The deaths of U.S. service members are expected to increase pressure on President Biden to respond more forcefully.
President Biden stated, “While we are still gathering the facts of this attack, we know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq.”
Earlier this month, four U.S. service members in western Iraq were injured when their base was attacked by Iran-backed militias. Additionally, two Navy SEALs were declared dead after disappearing during an operation at sea to intercept weapons headed to Houthi fighters.
New details on the U.N. workers accused of aiding Hamas
The U.N. has fired several employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, following Israel’s claim that 12 employees played a role in the Hamas attacks against Israel. The accusations include kidnapping, distributing ammunition, and participating in a massacre.
Israel accused 10 of the employees of being members of Hamas, with seven also serving as teachers at UNRWA schools. The U.S. and other countries have suspended funding for UNRWA, raising concerns about the agency’s ability to provide essential services to two million Gazans.
Three African juntas left a regional economic bloc
Military juntas in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) due to sanctions imposed after the coups. The juntas described the sanctions as “inhumane” and accused the bloc of becoming a threat to its member states and their people.
2024-01-29 00:08:10
Original from www.nytimes.com