Two U.S. service members were killed in action in Jordan during Iranian attacks on a U.S. base on July 17, as confirmed by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on July 18. CENTCOM stated that the service members were killed while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. One service member is currently missing, and four others were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals but have since been discharged. Additional personnel evaluated for minor injuries have returned to duty.
These deaths represent the first U.S. fatalities in the ongoing conflict with Iran since fighting resumed in June, following the collapse of a ceasefire agreement. A total of 16 U.S. service members have died in the conflict since it began in February.
Iran's strikes on Jordan are part of a broader series of attacks on U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf, with recent missile and drone strikes reported in Kuwait and Qatar. The attacks followed a six-day U.S. military campaign in Iran in response to actions by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) against commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.