• jordanlund@lemmy.worldM
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      9 months ago

      That’s actually a really good question:

      https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/americans-killed-middle-east-1.7097419

      “The small installation, which Jordan does not publicly disclose, includes U.S. engineering, aviation, logistics and security troops. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the troops were deployed there “to work for the lasting defeat of ISIS.” Three officials said the drone struck near the troops’ sleeping quarters, which they said explained the high casualty count.”

      All just part of our long standing partnership with Jordan. Interesting that Jordan is not claiming the installation, preferring to state it’s in Syria.

      • Tangent5280@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        Jordan not taking responsibility for the base on their land is how you know some shady ass black site shit is going on there - it’s a convenient way to reduce liability in case it ever comes out.

        Syria being a near failed state seems like a good scapegoat to pin shit like this on.

        • jordanlund@lemmy.worldM
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          9 months ago

          Or they just don’t want to get dragged into a larger conflict. “Jordan? Nah, nah, nah, it ain’t LIKE that… that’s SYRIA!”

          • Tangent5280@lemmy.world
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            9 months ago

            This makes more sense, considering what a hotbed that entire region is. But wouldn’t this cause issues if Syria later claims that the base is actually on their land and redraes borders or something?

            • jordanlund@lemmy.worldM
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              9 months ago

              Oh, definitely, but I don’t think Syria is all that organized at this point. Jordan’s probably counting on that.

        • BigPotato@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          Tower 22 is more like a rear det for Al Tanf. It’s a way to project force into Syria without actually going in and leaving the SDF to work the Syrian side, with the implication that Syria might attack the SDF base but not risk attacking Jordan. There are bases in Jordan, well, not bases like Germany or Kuwait but diplomatic compounds with every thing that comes with that.

          It’s not a black site though, they’ve posted pictures a few years back when a Syrian drone wrecked a few buildings.