Fatal Jordan Attack Was Mistaken For “Friendly Drone”

The New York Times reports:

Air defenses failed to stop a deadly attack on a U.S. military outpost in Jordan on Sunday because the hostile drone homed in on its target at the same time an American drone was returning to the base, two U.S. officials said Monday.

The return of the American surveillance drone to the remote resupply base prompted some confusion over whether the incoming drone was friendly or not, and air defenses were not immediately activated, according to the officials.

Two other drones that attacked other locations nearby were shot down, they added. The attack on Sunday killed three U.S. service members, the first known American military fatalities from hostile fire in the turmoil spilling over from Israel’s war with Hamas.

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American air defense systems failed to intercept an attack drone that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan because the incoming aircraft was mistaken for a friendly drone returning to the base, two officials said Monday. https://t.co/HFp6pGkW8f

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) January 29, 2024