By Lucy Adautin
President Joe Biden has blamed Iran-backed militants for the first US military deaths in the region since the Israel-Hamas war began.
The latest attack on a base in Jordan led to the death of three American troops.
But Iran has denied any links to a drone strike in Jordan that killed the three US military personnel and said it was not seeking an “expansion” of conflict in the Middle East on Monday .
“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,” Biden said in a statement, pledging to hold “all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing”.
Biden held a moment of silence at a South Carolina church banquet hall for the US troops killed in the attack, vowing: “We shall respond.”
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron reiterated a call for Iran “to de-escalate in the region”.
Meanwhile, Iran condemned what it termed as “baseless accusations,” describing them as a “projection” and attributing them to a “conspiracy” orchestrated by those seeking to embroil America in a new conflict.
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Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said “the Islamic Republic of Iran does not welcome the expansion of conflict in the region, Tehran ,is not involved in the decisions of the resistance groups”.
Iran previously said it sees it as “duty” to support what it calls “resistance groups” in the region but insists they are “independent” in decision and action.
Sunday’s strike recorded 34 personnel wounded, eight of whom required evacuation, according to the US Central Command.
US troops operate at the base known as Tower 22 near Jordan’s border with Iraq and Syria as part of an international coalition against the Islamic State jihadist group.
Tensions have risen in the Middle East since Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unexpected attack on Israel on October 7, leaving around 1,140 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.
Israel has continuously launched a relentless military attack that has killed at least 26,422 people in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.
Iran hailed the Hamas attack as a “success” but denied any involvement.
