Report Cites Drone Mix-Up in Attack That Killed 3 Soldiers

U.S. Central Command is investigating how the drone was able to penetrate air defenses as well as its point of origin.

Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at 05:45 PM ET

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Pentagon Press Secretary U.S. Air Force Major General Pat Ryder conducts a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., January. 30. [Courtesy: DOD]

Key Takeaways:

A drone attack on a U.S. military outpost in Jordan killed three Army Reserve soldiers and injured over 40 others, successfully evading air defenses.
Preliminary reports suggest the drone may have bypassed defenses due to confusion with a returning U.S. drone, prompting an investigation into potential technology or human failure.
U.S. officials have vowed a response to the attack, which is part of a series of regional assaults on U.S. forces, while President Biden expressed a desire to avoid a wider war in the Middle East.

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An investigation is underway after a one-way attack drone was able to defy air defenses at a U.S. military installation in Jordan on Sunday, killing three Army Reserve soldiers and injuring more than 40 others.

The attack drone hit a U.S outpost, called Tower 22, in the early morning hours of January 28, striking living quarters in a contained housing unit, according defense officials. According to the U.S. Central Command, approximately 350 U.S. Army and Air Force personnel are deployed to the base.