Biden decides on response to deadly attack on US forces in Jordan; Iran-backed militia issues statement
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SAYS HE HAS DECIDED ON HOW TO RESPOND TO THE DRONE ATTACK THAT KILLED THREE U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS AND INJURED MORE THAN 40 OTHER TROOPS.
THE PRESIDENT IS NOT ELABORATING ON HIS PLANS – BUT DID SAY HE IS NOT LOOKING FOR A WIDER WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS LATER SAYING THE RESPONSE WOULD MOST LIKELY COME IN MULTIPLE ACTIONS.
FOLLOWING BIDEN’S STATEMENT — THE IRANIAN-BACKED MILITIA IN IRAQ — WHICH THE U.S. BELIEVES WAS LIKELY BEHIND THE JORDAN ATTACK – KATAIB (KA–TIBE) HEZBOLLAH – ANNOUNCED IT IS SUSPENDING ALL ITS MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST U.S. TROOPS IN THE REGION.
THE MOTIVE BEHIND THE GROUP’S DECISION REMAINS UNCLEAR – BUT COMES AMID THE IRAQI PRIME MINISTER’S CALLS TO PREVENT AN ESCALATION IN THE WAR.
A PENTAGON SPOKESPERSON RESPONDED TO THE GROUP’S STATEMENT — BY SAYING “ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.”