Three US troops dead in Jordan drone attack

THREE US troops have died and 25 have been injured in a drone attack in Jordan.

- Stewart Whittingham

It is the first time American forces personnel have been killed by enemy fire in the Middle East since the beginning of the Gaza war.

The soldiers perished at a small US outpost in north-east Jordan near the border with Syria.

President Joe Biden attack was carried out by "radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq" and stated the US "will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing".

He added that he "joined the families and friends of our fallen - and Americans across the country - in grieving the loss of these warriors in this despicable and unjust attack".

There had been more than 158 assaults on US and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria up to Friday but they rarely caused serious injury.