Page 3 - aruba-today-20240131

A3
U.S. NEWS Wednesday 31 January 2024

Biden says he’s decided on response to killing of 3 U.S. troops,

plans to attend dignified transfer

By AAMER MADHANI and “He was grateful for their
ZEKE MILLER time. He expressed to them
Associated Press how proud we all are of
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- their service,” Kirby said of
dent Joe Biden on Tuesday Biden’s calls with the fami-
indicated he had decided lies. “How we mourn and
how to respond after the feel sorrow over their loss.”
killing of three American Kirby added: “The presi-
service members Sunday dent will be going to the
in a drone attack in Jordan dignified transfer on Fri-
that his administration has day.”
pinned on Iran-backed mi- The solemn ceremony
litia groups, saying he does marks the return of fallen
not want to expand the service members to Ameri-
war in the Middle East but can soil as they journey to
demurring on specifics. their final resting place,
U.S. officials said they are with silent honor guards
still determining which carrying flag-draped trans-
of several Iran-backed In this image provided by The White House, President Joe Biden receives the Presidential fer cases holding the re-
groups was responsible for Daily Briefing, Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, in the White House Situation Room at the White House in mains from transport air-
Washington, as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin listens.
the first killing of American Associated Press craft to military vehicles.q
troops in a wave of at-
tacks against U.S. forces in
the region since the Oct. Hezbollah, one of several
7 Hamas assault on Israel. groups eyed by U.S. offi-
Biden plans to attend the cials, announced Tuesday
dignified transfer to mark in a statement “the suspen-
the fallen troops’ return sion of military and security
to American soil on Friday operations against the oc-
and answered in the af- cupation forces in order to
firmative when asked by prevent embarrassment to
reporters if he’d decided the Iraqi government.”
on a response, as he indi- The attacks on U.S. forces
cated he was aiming to by Iraqi militias over the past
prevent further escalation. four months have placed
“I don’t think we need a the government of Iraqi
wider war in the Middle Prime Minister Mohammed
East,” Biden said at the Shia al-Sudani in an awk-
White House before de- ward position. Sudani was
parting for a fundraising brought to power by Irani-
trip to Florida. “That’s not an-allied factions but has
what I’m looking for.” also attempted to stay in
It was not immediately Washington’s good graces
clear whether Biden meant and has condemned the
he had decided on a spe- attacks on U.S. forces serv-
cific retaliatory plan. A U.S. ing in Iraq as part of an in-
official told The Associated ternational commission to
Press that the Pentagon is fight the Islamic State. Iraqi
still assessing options to re- and U.S. officials on Satur-
spond to the attack in Jor- day opened talks aimed at
dan. winding down the commis-
National Security Council sion’s presence.
spokesman John Kirby told Kirby said that Biden spoke
reporters traveling with with the soldiers’ families
Biden aboard Air Force Tuesday morning and ex-
One that he would not pre- tended his condolences,
view the U.S. response, but pledging full assistance to
indicated it would come in the families as they grieve.
phases. In separate calls with the
“It’s very possible that families, Biden also gauged
what you’ll see is a tiered their feelings about his at-
approach here, not just a tendance at Friday’s dig-
single action, but poten- nified transfer of the fallen
tially multiple actions over service members’ remains
a period of time,” he said. at Dover Air Force Base in
Meanwhile, the Iranian- Delaware on Friday, and
backed Iraqi militia Kataib “all of them supported his
presence there,” Kirby said.