Biden faces rising pressure to hit Iran after deaths of 3 US soldiers

Experts say strikes within Iran, as urged by Republicans, could drag US into major war

The killing of three US troops and wounding of dozens more on Jan 28 by Iran-backed militants is piling political pressure on President Joe Biden to deal a blow directly against Iran, a move he has been reluctant to make out of fear of igniting a broader war.

Mr Biden's response options could range anywhere from targeting Iranian forces outside to even inside Iran, or opting for a more cautious retaliatory attack solely against the Iran-backed militants responsible, experts say.

American forces in the Middle East have been attacked more than 150 times by Iran-backed forces in Iraq, Syria, Jordan and off the coast of Yemen since the Israel-Hamas war erupted in October.

But until the Jan 28 attack on a remote outpost known as Tower 22 near Jordan's north-eastern border with Syria, the strikes had not killed US troops nor wounded so many. That allowed Mr Biden the political space to mete out US retaliation, inflicting costs on Iranbacked forces without risking a direct war with Teheran.

Mr Biden said the United States would respond, without giving any more details.

Republicans accused Mr Biden of letting American forces become sitting ducks, waiting for the day when a drone or missile would evade base defences. They say that day came on Jan 28, when a single one-way attack drone struck near base barracks early in the morning.

In response, they say, Mr Biden must strike Iran.