Two US service members have been killed and another remains missing following Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks in Jordan, military officials have confirmed.
US Central Command (Centcom) stated that four other service members were medically evacuated to local hospitals but have since been discharged, while several others with minor injuries have returned to duty.
Jordan’s military confirmed it intercepted 10 Iranian missiles overnight, reporting no damage on the ground. The identities of the deceased troops are being withheld for 24 hours pending next-of-kin notification.
The latest casualties bring the total US death toll in the conflict to 16, following the confirmation earlier this week that a missing American Navy pilot had died. Responding to the deaths, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on social media: “Godspeed, heroes. Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve.”
Conflicting reports on base attack
Iranian state media claimed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) destroyed at least two US fighter aircraft early on Saturday during a strike on the Al-Azraq airbase in Jordan. Centcom has declined to provide further details regarding the Iranian claims.
Following the escalation, the US Department of State issued a global security alert, advising citizens worldwide to exercise increased caution. The update warned that “due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation.”
Unravelling peace efforts
The latest hostilities come just weeks after a preliminary peace deal struck between Washington and Tehran in June collapsed.
The wider conflict, which began on 28 February, has completely reshaped the region:
- Casualties: Iranian state media reports at least 50 people have been killed in US strikes over the last three weeks, while thousands have died across the region since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Iran.
- Blockades: Friday marked the seventh consecutive night of US airstrikes on Iran, matching a newly reimposed US naval blockade on Iranian ports.
- Chokepoints: In response to strikes on its territory, Tehran has targeted US allies in the Gulf and declared the strategic Strait of Hormuz closed.
Infrastructure targeted
Both sides face growing accusations of striking critical civilian infrastructure. Kuwait reported that a power plant and a water distillation plant were hit on Saturday following retaliatory Iranian strikes against American Gulf allies.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) condemned the actions, with Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi labelling attacks on civilian infrastructure as “war crimes”.
While the US denied Iranian claims that its forces hit bridges, a train station, and an airport earlier this week, satellite imagery confirmed a strike on a bridge in Iran’s Hormozgan province. US President Donald Trump had previously threatened to target Iranian power plants and bridges if Tehran refused to return to the negotiating table.
Late on Saturday, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei—who has not appeared in public since his father was killed at the start of the war—released a statement declaring that America’s actions prove “the signature of the US president is utterly worthless and devoid of credibility”.
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