2024-01-30T07:44:54+00:00
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/ The US Department of Defense (the Pentagon) announced the identities of the three reservists who were killed, on Sunday, in an attack on a base in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border, known as “Tower 22”.
The dead soldiers, all from the state of Georgia, are: Sergeant William Jerome Rivers (46 years old), Private (Specialist) Kennedy Ladon Sanders (24 years old), and Private (Specialist) Breonna Alexandria Moffett (23 years old).
Washington revealed that the attack on “Burj 22” in northeastern Jordan, a logistics base located opposite the Syrian Rukban region, also wounded at least 34 others.
“Tower 22” includes about 350 soldiers from the American ground and air forces, carrying out support missions for the coalition forces against ISIS.
The three soldiers killed in the latest attack were assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, 926th Engineer Battalion, and 926th Engineer Brigade at Fort Moore, Georgia. These are teams composed of soldiers trained to deploy in a short time to build roads, landing areas, and protective dirt barriers for American forces, according to the New York Times.
“On behalf of the Army Reserve, I share the grief felt by their friends, families and loved ones,” said Army Reserve Commander, Lieutenant General Judy Daniels. “Their service and sacrifice will not be forgotten, and we are committed to supporting those left behind in the wake of this tragedy.”
For his part, Kennedy Sanders’ father told NBC News that his daughter, who joined the army in 2019, was “a happy person and always smiling.”
He added: “She loved life, was a wonderful big sister, a wonderful daughter, and loved everyone.”
Moffett, who is from the Savannah area, also joined the Army Reserve five years ago, during which time she received the National Defense Service Medal.
Rivers, who is from the Carrollton area, joined the Army as a reservist in 2011 and completed a nine-month course in Iraq in 2018.
Rivers’ awards and decorations include: the Military Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and others.
The Pentagon said that the attack “bears the fingerprints of the Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades,” considering it an “escalation” after it led to the killing of the three soldiers.
Deputy spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defense, Sabrina Singh, said in a press conference that the decision to respond to the attack against American forces will be taken by the president “and he is consulting with his security team on an ongoing basis.”
On Sunday, US President Joe Biden pledged to respond after the attack, which comes in light of increasing attacks on American forces in the region.
During his visit to South Carolina, Biden said, “We had a difficult day last night in the Middle East. We lost three brave lives,” before pledging that the United States would “respond.”
Biden added, “We will continue our commitment to fighting terrorism. Have no doubt that we will hold all those responsible accountable at the appropriate time and in the manner we choose.”