Pentagon: US Doesn't Want a War With Iran

The Pentagon said on Monday it does not believe that Iran is seeking a war with the United States, and that Washington doesn't want a war either, a day after an Iran-backed group killed three U.S. soldiers and wounded dozens more in Jordan.

Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh blamed Iran for enabling groups attacking the United States and said the latest attack carried the "footprints" of Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah.

"We don't seek war, but we will take action, and respond to attacks on our forces," Singh said. 

Earlier Monday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin sounded a strong warning. He vowed the United States would take "all necessary actions" to defend its troops after a drone attack by Iran-backed militants that killed three U.S. troops and wounded dozens more.

The attack Sunday was the first deadly strike against U.S. forces since the Israel-Hamas war erupted in October, and marks a major escalation in tensions that have engulfed the Middle East.

"The president and I will not tolerate attacks on U.S. forces and we will take all necessary actions to defend the U.S. and our troops," Austin added at the start of meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

The United States is trying to determine exactly why the nearly 350 troops at the base in Jordan, known as Tower 22, were unable to stop the drone.

Two officials said a U.S. drone was approaching the base around the same time the attack drone was incoming. One of the officials said the attack drone was also flying low, factors that may have contributed to it being missed by base defenses.

U.S. troops have been attacked over 150 times in Iraq, Syria, Jordan as well as on warships in the Red Sea, where Houthi fighters in Yemen have been firing drones and missiles at them.

The attacks are piling political pressure on President Joe Biden to deal a blow directly against Iran, a move he's been reluctant to do out of fear of igniting a broader war.