By Shao Jie

US troops stationed in northeastern Jordan near the border with Syria were attacked by drones on the evening of January 27 EST, which killed three US soldiers and wounded dozens more. The attack marks the most devastating incidents suffered by US troops in the Middle East since the outbreak of a new round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on October 7 last year, sending a dangerous signal of the ongoing spillover of the conflict, which may bring a  significant impact on the regional situation.

Regarding the perpetrators or participants of this attack, the US stated in the first instance that it was linked to Iran. In a statement, Biden mentioned that the US is still collecting information related to the attack but believed it was carried out by Iran-backed militants in Syria and Iraq. The US will hold accountable those who carry out the attack at a time and place of their choosing.

The US is still investigating the attack, but it has eagerly accused Iran with certainty even before the completion of the investigation. Analysts pointed out that based on the timing and location of the attack, it is not completely ruled out that other militants unrelated to Iran may have been responsible.

The UK has also accused Iran of being responsible for the attack. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani stated that UK's accusation is "entirely groundless" and emphasized that Iran does not have any local proxy organizations, as reported by IRNA on January 29.

Previously, the US attributed almost all attacks occurring outside the scope of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict against US and other Western countries, and Israel-related targets to Iran-backed militants. This practice appears to have become customary for the US.

The US has long considered Iran as one of its biggest challenges in the Middle East, and escalating sanctions, assassinations of Iranian military or other personnel, and accusations against Iran have become commonplace. Additionally, the US aims to reassure its regional allies through actions such as pledging retaliation, thereby alleviating their concerns that the US may not be able to control the situation in the region.

After the attack, Jordan's response was ambiguous. Muhannad Mubaidin, Jordan's Minister of Government Communications and spokesperson, initially stated on January 28 that the attack did not occur in Jordan. However, he later clarified that the attack took place  at an outpost near the Syrian border.

The US military bases and troops in the Middle East are located in many countries. With the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, these bases and troops could become targets. The most devastating attack against US troops since the outbreak of the recent round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict has involved Jordan, which may be attributed to Jordan's unique circumstances.

First, Jordan shares a border with Israel and the West Bank occupied by Israel to the west, Syria to the north, and Iraq and Saudi Arabia to the east. Arguably, Jordan is a perfect geographic pathway for the spillover of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Second, Palestinians constitute more than half of Jordan's population. The number of Palestinians living in Jordan even exceeds that of Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Third, Jordan has consistently maintained a delicate balance between different parties. It established diplomatic relations with Israel and maintained close ties with the US, which invited strong criticism from radical forces both domestically and internationally. Extremists have been operating covertly within Jordan, including Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, who is a Jordanian.

Due to the reasons mentioned above, the purpose of the attack on US troops stationed in Jordan is to incite anti-American and anti-Israel sentiments within Jordan, escalate conflicts, and further exacerbate regional tensions. It is evident that if the relevant parties do not make immediate efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, but instead allow it to escalate, the regional situation will become worse and the interests of more countries are likely to be significantly impacted.