Two US troops killed and one missing after Iranian attack on Jordan base

The U.S. military confirmed on Sunday that two service members were killed and one remains missing following Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks on a base in Jordan, marking the first direct U.S. troop deaths from Iranian fire since a truce was agreed upon in April. The attack, which occurred overnight on July 17, involved multiple strikes, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Four U.S. service members were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals but have since been discharged, while others with minor injuries have returned to duty. The military has not disclosed the identities of the fallen or details about the missing individual, citing the need to notify next of kin first.

The casualties raise the total number of U.S. service members killed in the conflict to 16, with over 430 wounded, according to CENTCOM. This includes the recent declaration of a U.S. Navy pilot as deceased, marking the second increase in the toll this week. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it had destroyed at least two U.S. fighter aircraft using drones and missiles at Al-Azraq base in Jordan. U.S. officials have not confirmed this report, and CENTCOM declined to comment further when contacted by the BBC.

The attack follows a week of renewed hostilities, including the reimposition of a U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports and Iran’s declaration that the Strait of Hormuz is closed. The closure has disrupted shipping through the critical waterway, which carries around a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas. Iran accused the U.S. of targeting civilian infrastructure, while Washington maintained its strikes focused on military and logistical sites. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) condemned Iran’s actions as “war crimes,” with Secretary General Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi calling for accountability for the “deliberate targeting of infrastructure and civilian facilities.”

Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, issued a written statement on Saturday, accusing the U.S. of “repeated breaches” of a preliminary ceasefire and declaring that “the signature of the US president is utterly worthless and devoid of credibility.” His remarks came days after a public memorial service for his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a U.S. strike on February 28. Iran has also accused the U.S. of disrupting civilian services, including damage to a Kuwaiti water desalination plant and an oil facility, though the U.S. has not confirmed these claims.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed solidarity with the fallen service members, stating, “Godspeed, heroes. Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve.” The U.S. has faced mounting pressure to address the humanitarian and economic fallout of the conflict, with oil prices rising to $88 per barrel and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz declining to a three-week low. The State Department issued a global travel advisory, urging Americans to exercise “increased caution” in the Middle East due to heightened tensions and potential for further escalation.

Trump has threatened to strike Iran’s bridges and power plants if the country does not resume talks, though he later abandoned the plan in favor of trade deals with Gulf allies. Meanwhile, Iran has accused the U.S. of targeting critical infrastructure, including a bridge in Hormozgan province, which BBC Verify confirmed was attacked. The conflict’s trajectory remains uncertain, with both sides showing no signs of backing down. The latest deaths underscore the escalating risks for U.S. forces in the region, as Iran and its proxies continue to target allies. Jordan’s air defense systems intercepted 10 Iranian missiles during the assault, with no reported damage to the kingdom’s forces.

The U.S. military has not released the names of the two killed, citing the need to notify next of kin first. The attack on Jordan’s base has reignited concerns about the vulnerability of U.S. forces, particularly as Iran’s strikes expand to multiple Gulf states. Over 50 Iranians have been killed in U.S. strikes over the past three weeks, according to Iranian state media, bringing the total number of deceased since the war began to 50. As the conflict enters its sixth month, the international community watches closely, with the next moves by both nations likely to shape the future of the struggle over the Strait of Hormuz and regional stability.