2 US soldiers killed, 1 missing in attack in Jordan
U.S. Central Command says two U.S. service members are dead and another is missing after Iranian ballistic missile and drone strikes hit U.S. and partner forces in Jordan.
Iranian ballistic missile and drone strikes hit U.S. and partner forces in Jordan, killing two U.S. service members and leaving another missing, U.S. Central Command said Saturday.
Centcom announced that its unit was attacked on July 17th. Four additional U.S. service members were medically evacuated to a Jordanian hospital but have since been discharged, and others who were treated for minor injuries have returned to duty.
The military said it would not release the identities of the dead and missing service members out of respect for their families. Additional information will not be released until at least 24 hours after next of kin has been notified.
The announcement comes as fighting between the United States and Iran continues to escalate across the Middle East.
Iran expands attacks across region
The casualty numbers were announced as Iran launched new attacks against US allies following overnight attacks by the US on military targets in Iran.
Iran targeted Kuwait with ballistic missiles and drones, attacking military facilities and critical infrastructure. Kuwaiti officials said air defense forces thwarted some threats, but the attacks damaged facilities and injured firefighters and oil sector workers who responded to the airstrikes.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has announced that it has targeted a U.S. military support base in Kuwait in retaliation for an ongoing U.S. operation. The group also warned that additional attacks against US allies in the region could follow.
Iran war continues with US attacks and Iranian attacks
A week after the ceasefire collapsed, and on the seventh night of U.S. attacks on Iranian military targets, Iran launched attacks on America’s Gulf allies.
Military operations against Iran continue
The violence followed multiple U.S. attacks targeting Iranian military capabilities near the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which about a fifth of the world’s oil supplies pass.
U.S. Central Command said the recent attacks have targeted Iranian military assets, which officials say threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said the campaign is aimed at protecting civilian sailors and holding Iran accountable for attacks that resulted in the deaths, injuries, and disappearances of civilian sailors.
President Donald Trump defended the expansion of military operations, saying the U.S. offensive would continue until Iran agrees to terms that ensure regional security and freedom of navigation. Meanwhile, Iranian leaders have vowed to continue resisting U.S. military pressure, suggesting the conflict is unlikely to ease in the short term.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com or X @athompsonUSAT.
