On Jan. 28, Iran-backed militants killed three United States soldiers in Jordan by way of a drone attack. The U.S. government promised a harsh response, but Americans waited days before their military struck Iran-backed forces in Iraq and Syria. A few days after that attack, the U.S. struck again in a similar style. However, neither reprisal touched Iranian soil and both are unlikely to deter future attacks.

In a post-Cold War world, the United States military generates an aura of untouchability. To the American public, their military is unmatched by any foreign adversary, and no one would dare to put a scratch in America’s stainless armor. And, if they did, they would surely meet their end.

In a world where minor skirmishes with China or Russia warrant front-page headlines, one would assume that a direct attack on U.S. forces would be met with nonstop news coverage and an overwhelming military response. Yet, such attacks against American forces are commonplace in the Middle East, almost always originating from Iranian-backed militias – and until three service members were killed, such events were rarely discussed. In fact, Iranian-backed forces have targeted the U.S. military over 160 times since Oct. 2023, and not once has the United States struck back on Iranian soil. Not even now.

Although President Biden released a statement asserting, “let all those who might seek to do us harm know this: If you harm an American, we will respond,” his threat seems to fall short. He seems to be “responding” to anyone but the Iranian Revolutionary Guard who he himself has identified as the backers of the attack.

Iran’s leaders have proven their persistence, and they will continue sending the military equivalent of hitmen to kill American troops as long as they know the United States will not directly retaliate. If the United States keeps its troops spread thin throughout the Middle East whilst continuing its current unresponsiveness, the attacks against them will endure and further casualties will occur.

If Iran wanted war with the United States, it would not continue to hide behind proxy groups like Kata’ib Hezbollah and the Houthis. In the recent past, a direct and aggressive strategy with Iran has not sparked greater conflict. In fact, it has had largely the opposite effect. When American forces killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Jan. 2020, Iran did little to retaliate beyond a couple of casualty-free strikes on U.S. bases in Iraq, despite heightened tensions and increased threats from both sides. Since the start of President Biden’s term later that year, the United States’ strategy with Iran has been focused on lowering tensions. One of President Biden’s earliest actions was a failed renegotiation of the Iranian Nuclear Deal, and he has continuously preferred baseless speeches to military action. In turn, Iran has become more aggressive.

The Biden Administration must take harsher and more direct action against Iran, making clear that United States forces are truly off-limits. One punch in the face from the U.S. would likely cause Iran to back down. No one is arguing for a wider war in the Middle East. However, right now, the Pentagon has American soldiers stationed in Iraq, Jordan, and Syria like sitting ducks – and everyone knows the United States is too scared of war to inflict anything more than a symbolic response.

Image by Justin Casey on Unsplash