Two US service members were killed and one remains missing after Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks in Jordan, according to military officials. The attacks occurred on Friday, and four US service members were medically evacuated to Jordan hospitals but have since been discharged. Others who had minor injuries have returned to duty.
The US Central Command (Centcom) did not disclose the identities of those killed, nor provide details about the circumstances or location of the incident. The US military has been on high alert in the region due to increased tensions with Iran. On Saturday night, the US launched another round of air strikes against Iran, targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan.
Iranian Aggression
The strikes are designed to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The US has been conducting air strikes against Iran for eight consecutive nights, aiming to punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces for their attacks on American service members. The conflict between the US and Iran has been escalating, with both sides exchanging blows in recent weeks.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei accused the US of seeking to “escalate the conflict” and said Iran had “unforgettable lessons in store for it”. The US has denied Iranian accusations that it had hit bridges, a train station, and an airport earlier this week, saying it had exclusively struck military targets. The US death toll in the conflict has now risen to 16, with an American Navy pilot who went missing earlier this month declared dead.
Escalating Tensions
The US Department of State issued a notice advising Americans worldwide, but particularly in the Middle East, to exercise “increased caution”. The travel notice urged those in the region to “monitor the news for breaking developments”, adding: “Due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation”. The conflict between the US and Iran has significant implications for global security and stability.
The US and Iran had struck a preliminary deal to end the war in June, but the agreement unravelled within weeks. At least 50 people have been killed and more than 500 injured in US strikes over the past three weeks, Iranian state media reported. Thousands more have been killed across the Middle East since the US-Israeli war with Iran began on 28 February, with the vast majority coming from Iran and Lebanon. The ongoing conflict has broader significance, highlighting the deep-seated tensions and instability in the region.
