White House concerned response to deadly drone attack may trigger broader conflict in Middle East: Report

WASHINGTON (AA) - The Biden administration is weighing options that some believe will send a clear message to Iran-backed proxy groups to "stop the attacks,” according to a report citing a US official.

“Others fear they could trigger broader fighting in the region that the Biden administration has strenuously sought to avoid," it said.

US retaliatory strikes against Iran-backed proxy groups will unfold across several days and hit multiple countries, including Iraq, Syria and possibly Yemen, it said, citing a US official.

The US readies retaliatory strikes after Sunday's drone attack on Tower 22, a remote military installation in Jordan near the Syrian and Iraqi borders, which killed three US troops and injured at least 34 others.

An umbrella group of Iranian-backed militias calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday that it will be a multi-tiered response and that the US can respond "a number of times."

President Joe Biden said earlier this week that the US has decided to respond to the Jordan attack, adding: "I don't think we need a wider war in the Middle East."