Two US service members were killed and one is missing in action, US Central Command announced Saturday, marking the first American military fatalities in the Iran war since March, as attacks between the two countries have escalated, reported CNN.
This comes after IRGC launched a wave of attacks on US allies including neighbouring Gulf states of Bahrain and Kuwait in retaliation against seventh day of American military strikes on Iran.
“On July 17, two US service members in Jordan were killed in action as US Central Command (CENTCOM) and partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. Additionally, one service member is currently missing in action,” stated CENTCOM in a social media post.
CENTCOM will be withholding the identities of the fallen soldiers until 24 hours after their next of kin are notified, reported CNN, adding that it had reached out to the White House for comment on the fatalities.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged the news in a post on X, writing, “Godspeed, heroes. Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve.”
This raises the total count of US service members killed since the war began to 16, while over 430 have been wounded, said media reports.
According to the statement by CENTCOM, four American service members were medically evacuated to hospitals in Jordan. All four have since been discharged. Other personnel who were assessed for minor injuries have already returned to duty.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in a statement earlier Saturday, claimed responsibility for strikes on a base used by US forces in Al Azraq, Jordan.
The IRGC claimed to “completely destroy” several aircraft in the attack, which it said was conducted with both missiles and drones.
The deaths bring the number of US service members who have died in the nearly five-month conflict to 16, according to the US military’s defense casualty analysis system.
The deaths could prompt fierce retaliation, which would come on top of an already intensifying conflict, reported the New York Times. The US and Iran expanded the scope and intensity of their attacks overnight, striking critical infrastructure sites that included a power station and water facilities, with no sign of an off-ramp to end the fighting.
Iranian state media reported on Saturday damage to bridges and roads in the south of Iran, and said that a water desalination plant in Jask was hit.
It cited a local official as saying that about 10,000 people were facing water shortages. The US military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on those claims.
President Trump has frequently threatened to bombard Iranian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, in an apparent effort to force Iran’s leaders to make a deal and end the war.
Analysts say there is little guarantee that stepping up attacks would force Iran to change course, and such attacks on critical infrastructure could constitute war crimes under international law.
