The three US soldiers killed in a drone strike in Jordan have been named.
The US Department of Defense has announced the names of the three soldiers came from an army reserve unit based in Georgia.
The soldiers killed were Sgt William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Georgia, Spc Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Georgia and Spc Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia.
The three were all supporting Operation Inherent Resolve and had been assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, 926th Engineer Battalion, 926th Engineer Brigade, Fort Moore, Georgia.
The three soldiers have been named (file pic)
Getty
The Pentagon’s deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said: "We know that Iran is behind it. Iran continues to arm and equip these groups to launch these attacks
"I don’t have more to share in terms of an intelligence assessment on if leaders in Iran were directing this attack, but what I can tell you is that we know these groups are supported by Iran."
Iran has denied any involvement and said it was "not involved in the decision making of resistance groups".
Singh added that the at the number of people known to have been injured in the attack is now more than 40.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
The pentagon’s deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh
Getty
She added: "We do expect that number to continue to fluctuate as our service members with [traumatic brain injuries] report symptoms later on. So that number could continue to grow."
Singh said the US does not believe that Iran is seeking a war with the US, and that Washington doesn't want a war either.
She added: "We don't seek war, but we will take action, and respond to attacks on our forces."
The US 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.
Earlier today, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said: "Let me start with my outrage and sorrow (for) the deaths of three brave US troops in Jordan and for the other troops who were wounded.
"The president and I will not tolerate attacks on US forces and we will take all necessary actions to defend the US and our troops."
NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg added: "Iran continues to destabilize the region, this includes backing terrorists who attack our ships in the Red Sea."
