Two United States service members have been killed and another reported missing following Iranian missile strikes targeting military facilities in Jordan, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM).
CENTCOM said the casualties occurred as US forces repelled a wave of Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks on an American airbase in Jordan. Four additional US service members were injured during the assault and were evacuated to hospitals in Jordan for treatment.
In a statement, CENTCOM said the injured personnel had since been discharged, while other service members treated for minor injuries had returned to duty. "Two US service members in Jordan were killed in action. Additionally, one service member is currently missing in action," the statement said. The identities of the deceased are being withheld until 24 hours after their next of kin have been notified.
First US fatalities since ceasefire collapse
The latest fatalities are the first reported among US troops since the collapse of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran two weeks ago and bring the number of US personnel killed in the conflict to 16, according to US military officials.
The announcement came after reports that Iranian missiles struck Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, a military facility that hosts US personnel and aircraft. Jordanian authorities also said they intercepted 10 missiles that entered the country's airspace overnight, although officials have not confirmed the exact location where the US casualties occurred. Bahrain also reported intercepting Iranian attacks as Tehran launched a fresh wave of strikes against US military targets and allied countries across the Gulf region.
Escalation after ceasefire breakdown
The latest escalation follows two weeks of sustained military exchanges between Washington and Tehran after a ceasefire collapsed. The White House said US forces carried out a seventh consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military infrastructure, with CENTCOM stating that the operations targeted surveillance sites, logistics facilities, underground weapons storage locations and maritime capabilities.
Iran responded by launching attacks on several US allies in the region, including Kuwait, where local authorities reported strikes on a power plant, a water distillation facility and an oil hub. Saudi Arabia also reported coming under attack for the first time in nearly three months. The Gulf Cooperation Council condemned the attacks, describing them as a grave violation of international law and a dangerous escalation of the conflict.
Strait of Hormuz at centre of conflict
The conflict has increasingly centred on control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. An interim agreement aimed at ending hostilities collapsed after renewed attacks in early July, prompting Iran to announce the closure of the strategic waterway while the United States tightened restrictions on Iranian ports.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned of further retaliation if US military operations continue and has threatened to encourage Yemen's Houthi movement to target the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, another vital maritime trade route connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The renewed fighting has heightened concerns over regional security and global energy supplies, with no immediate diplomatic breakthrough in sight.
