2024-01-30T07:44:54+00:00
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/ The US Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced the identities of the three reserve soldiers 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 Georgia, were: Sergeant William Jerome Rivers, 46, Specialty Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, and Specialty Breonna Alexandria Moffitt, 23.
Washington revealed that the attack on “Tower 22” in northeastern Jordan, a logistics base located opposite the Syrian Rukban region, also resulted in at least 34 others being injured.
Tower 22 includes about 350 US Army and Air Force personnel who carry out support missions for coalition forces against ISIS.
The three soldiers killed in the latest attack were assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, the 926th Engineer Battalion, and the 926th Engineer Brigade at Fort Moore, Ga. These are teams of soldiers trained to deploy on short notice to build roads, landing zones and protective earthen barriers for American troops, 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 Commandant Lieutenant General Jody Daniels. “Their service and sacrifice will never 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 military in 2019, was “a happy person who was always smiling.”
“She loved life, was a wonderful big sister, a wonderful daughter, and loved everyone,” he added.
Moffett, who is from Savannah, also joined the Army Reserve five years ago, during which time she received the National Defense Service Medal.
Rivers, of Carrollton, joined the Army as a reservist in 2011 and completed a nine-month tour 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.
The decision to respond to the attack on US forces will be made by the president, “and he is consulting with his security team on an ongoing basis,” Deputy Defense Department spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said at a news conference.
US President Joe Biden vowed on Sunday to respond after the attack, which comes amid increasing attacks on US forces in the region.
“We had a tough day last night in the Middle East. We lost three brave souls,” Biden said during a visit to South Carolina, before vowing that the United States would “respond.”
“We will continue our commitment to combating terrorism. Make no mistake, we will hold all those responsible accountable at the appropriate time and in the manner of our choosing,” Biden added.