Prepping for World War III? China Warns of ‘Cycle of Retaliation’ as Tensions Mount Worldwide

China issued a stern warning to the United States in the aftermath of a drone strike that resulted in the deaths of three U.S. soldiers in Jordan.

The Asian nation recently cautioned about the potential for a "cycle of retaliation" in the Middle East, anticipating a U.S. counterstrike in response to the incident.

The U.S. attributes the deadly attack, which occurred on Jan. 28 at a remote frontier base in Jordan's northeast, to Iran-backed militants. However, Tehran has denied any involvement in the strike.

President Joe Biden and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin pledged a response to the attack, marking the first U.S. servicemen deaths since the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023.

According to Barron's, China's foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin recently acknowledged reports of casualties caused by the attack on a U.S. military base.

Wang urged all relevant parties to exercise restraint to prevent escalating regional tension, given the “highly complex and sensitive” situation in the Middle East.

On Jan. 29, U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby emphasized that the U.S. is “not looking for a war with Iran,” but asserted that a response to the escalatory attack is necessary.

Russia also weighed in on the situation, emphasizing the need for de-escalation in the region, according to the Daily Mail. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged steps to reduce tension, preventing further conflict spread and achieving de-confliction.

President Biden ruled out a direct attack on Iran but emphasized the commitment to self-defense, The Sun reported. The U.S. response, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, might be “multi-leveled, come in stages and be sustained over time.”

Identified by the U.S. Department of Defense on Jan. 29, the soldiers killed in the attack were Sgt. William Rivers, Specialist Kennedy Sanders and Specialist Breonna Moffett.

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They were assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, a U.S. Army Reserve unit based in Fort Moore, Georgia. The attack, which occurred at a housing facility on the base while troops slept, resulted in 40 other service members being injured.

Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh, speaking via CNN, explained that confusion ensued during the attack, with a foreign drone approaching the military base simultaneously as an American drone returned, causing delays and uncertainty in responding to the attack drone.