Two United States service members have been killed and another is missing after Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks targeted American and partner forces in Jordan, marking a major escalation in the ongoing conflict between Washington and Tehran.
Gatekeepers News reports that the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the attack occurred on Friday as troops defended against the barrage. Four other American service members who sustained injuries were evacuated to Jordanian hospitals but have since been discharged, while personnel with minor injuries have returned to duty. The military withheld the identities of the deceased and the missing service member pending notification of their families.
According to reports, the strike targeted Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, where US forces are stationed. The attack is the first in the current conflict to result in American combat deaths from direct Iranian fire and raises the US military death toll in the war with Iran to 16.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions following a week of missile exchanges between the two countries. In response, the United States has launched retaliatory airstrikes against Iranian targets, while additional fighter jets and military assets have been deployed to the region to reinforce American forces.
