Iraq condemns deadly attack on U.S. troops in Jordan

BAGHDAD, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The Iraqi government on Monday condemned an attack that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan, describing it as part of an escalation which threatens regional stability and urging an end to "the cycle of violence".

The United States has accused Iran-backed militant groups in Syria and Iraq of carrying out the attack, the first deadly blow against U.S. forces since the eruption of the Gaza war touched off violence across the Middle East.

"The Iraqi government condemns the ongoing escalation, particularly the recent attack on the Syrian-Jordanian border, and is closely monitoring with great concern the alarming security developments in the region," Iraqi government spokesperson Basim Alawadi said in a statement.

Iran-aligned groups have been waging attacks against Israeli and U.S. targets from Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria, since their Palestinian ally Hamas and Israel went to war on Oct. 7.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella organisation of hardline Iran-backed militant groups, on Sunday claimed attacks on three bases, including one on the Jordan-Syria border.

Iraq's government is backed by parties and militias close to Iran, though directly by the hardline groups that have been firing on U.S. forces, Western and Iraqi officials say. Baghdad has condemned the attacks while also saying regional escalation would continue as long as the Gaza war went on.

The attack took place one day after Iraq and the United States initiated talks on the end of a U.S.-led international military coalition that deployed to Iraq a decade ago as part of the campaign against Islamic State.

Iran-aligned Iraqi militias said they would continue attacks on U.S. forces despite the talks, expected to take months to years with the outcome unclear.

(Reporting by Tala Ramadan; Writing by Tom Perry and Timour Azhari; Editing by Nick Macfie)

((thomas.perry@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging: thomas.perry.reuters.com@reuters.))