“While we are still gathering the facts of this attack, we know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq,” Biden said in a statement on Sunday.

“The three American service members we lost were patriots in the highest sense. And their ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten by our nation,” Biden added.

The deaths marked the first fatalities of US troops in the region in months of strikes against American forces across the region by Iran-backed armed groups since the war between Israel and Hamas began in Gaza on October 7.

Biden said the attack occurred on Saturday night.

“We will carry on their commitment to fight terrorism. And have no doubt – we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing,” Biden said in the statement.

More to come…