Three American soldiers were killed and over 30 injured in a drone strike in Jordan which the US believes was carried out by Iran-backed militant groups.
A day after the attack, the White House said it is not looking for a war with Iran and do not want to escalate the situation.
US official John Kirby said that President Joe Biden is weighing his options and will respond in a manner of his choosing.
"These troops were conducting a vital mission in the region, aimed at helping US work with partners to counter ISIS. And even as the Defense Department gathers more information about the attack, that mission must and will continue," he said.
"The counter-ISIS mission is separate and distinct ..indeed it has been longstanding and unrelated to our efforts to support Israel and to prevent a wider conflict in the region," Kirby said.
"We do not seek another war. We do not seek to escalate. But we will absolutely do what is required to protect ourselves, to continue that mission, and to respond appropriately to these attacks," he asserted.
The latest attack comes amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
At a separate press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said his country would respond to the attack on its soldiers in Jordan. US troops long have used Jordan, a kingdom bordering Iraq, Israel, the Palestinian territory of the West Bank, Saudi Arabia and Syria, as a basing point.
"The President's been crystal clear. We will respond decisively to any aggression. We will hold responsible the people who attacked our troops. We'll do so at a time and a place of our choosing. At the same time, we remain focused on our core objectives in the region, both in terms of the conflict in Gaza and broader efforts to build truly durable peace and security," Blinken said.
(With AP inputs)
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