On Monday, January 29, 2024, the three soldiers who were killed in a drone attack on a U.S. military outpost in Jordan were identified. According to the Defense Department, they were Sgt. William Rivers, a 46-year-old from Carrollton, Georgia, Specialist Kennady Sanders a 24-year-old from Waycross, Georgia, and Specialist Breonna Moffett, 23 years old, from Savannah, Georgia. All of them were part of the 718th Engineer Company – based in Fort More, Georgia – and the Army Reserve unit.
During the attack, more than 40 people were injured. The drone hit a housing facility on the base where many soldiers were sleeping in the early morning hours, which is why the causalities were so high. It’s a tragedy that has left friends, family, and the entire nation grieving for the loss of these brave soldiers.
The drone attack has been claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of groups with links to Iran. The U.S. has now launched attacks on Syria and Iraq in retaliation.
The Defense Department spokesperson, Singh, provided an update on the personnel injured in the drone attack. Eight individuals were medically evacuated to the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center, and three of them were set to be transferred to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center for further treatment. The remaining five are expected to return to duty after being assessed for mild traumatic brain injuries. Confusion initially arose over the response time when a hostile drone approached the U.S. military outpost, Tower 22, at the same time as an American drone was returning, ultimately causing a delay in the U.S. response.
According to U.S. officials, the enemy drone appeared to follow the American drone, although it remains unclear whether this was intentional or coincidental. The hostile drone flew at a low altitude, evading the air defenses of the base. The drone’s origin has been repeatedly targeted in recent months, posing concerns about a wider conflict in the Middle East for U.S. and coalition forces. There have been a total of six attacks since Friday, January 26th, 2024, including the drone attack and rocket strike on Patrol Base Shaddadi in Syria.
