Reuters: Jordan asks Washington to deploy Patriot air defense systems to confront Iranian militias in Syria and Iraq

“Reuters” News Agency quoted a Jordanian security source as saying: “The Jordanian government requested Patriot air defence systems from Washington to confront the threats of Iran-backed militias in the region.

The source added that the Jordan’s request came as a result of Amman’s growing concern about being caught in the crossfire if the war in Gaza led to Iran attracting new arming to its borders.

According to Reuters, there is growing concern within the Jordanian military and security establishment that the Iranian militias that now control southern Syria are exploiting the Gaza war to achieve a security breakthrough.

According to Jordanian officials, Iranian-backed armed militias in both Syria and Iraq are using the drug war to increase pressure on Jordan, the strong ally of the US, which hosts hundreds of US troops.

It is noteworthy that three US soldiers were killed on Sunday, 28 January 2024, and more than 30 others were injured in an Iranian attack targeted a US military outpost on the Syrian-Jordanian border.

Reuters News Agency quoted a US official as saying: “The US casualties due to the attack increased, and there 34 US troops suffered serious concussion.”

US president Joe Biden held Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq responsible for the attack.

Biden said in an official statement published by the White House: “The heart of the United States is heavy with sadness today, last night, 3 US service members were killed and many were injured during a drone attack on our troops stationed in northeast Jordan near the Syrian border.”