WHAT HAPPENED?

U.S. Investigates Jordan Troop Shooting as Terrorism

Embassy disputes kingdom’s version of events.

The U.S. Embassy in Jordan has denied the claim that U.S. soldiers prompted the fatal shooting at a Jordanian air base this month by refusing to follow orders from the kingdom’s soldiers. Jordanian state media initially reported that the Americans who were killed in the attack had begun a firefight by disobeying direct orders. Embassy spokesman Eric Barbee said there’s “absolutely no credible evidence” for that allegation and that U.S. investigators “have not yet ruled out terrorism as a potential motive.” Three Americans were killed in the incident, including U.S. Army Sergeants Kevin McEnroe, Matthew Lewellen, and James Moriarty. The Washington Post previously reported the three were special-forces personnel assigned to a CIA program to train Syrian rebels. Military officials told the Times they were investigating to determine if a Jordanian soldier was a jihadi or if he accidentally discharged his weapon, triggering a deadly response.