Two American soldiers were killed and another missing in an Iranian ballistic missile and drone attack in Jordan on Friday, military officials said.
U.S. Central Command (Centcom) said four U.S. soldiers were taken to a Jordanian hospital for medical reasons but have since been discharged. Others with minor injuries returned to duty.
U.S. military officials did not release the identity of the deceased or provide details about the circumstances or location of the incident.
It collapsed less than a month after a preliminary ceasefire began following a week-long resumption of hostilities that saw Washington reimpose a blockade of Iranian ports and Tehran declare the Strait of Hormuz closed.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in a written statement late Saturday that the United States’ “repeated violations” of the agreement had “revealed the fundamental truth that the signature of the President of the United States is completely worthless and has no credibility.”
Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since the attack that killed his father at the start of the war, accused the United States of trying to “escalate the conflict” and said Iran was “preparing an unforgettable lesson.”
The Jordanian military previously said it had intercepted 10 Iranian missiles fired into Jordanian airspace overnight but reported no damage.
The U.S. death toll from the conflict has now risen to 16 after a missing U.S. Navy pilot was declared dead earlier this month, the second death toll to rise this week.
“Two U.S. service members were killed in Jordan while U.S. Central Command (Centcom) and partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. Additionally, one service member is currently missing,” Centcom said in a statement Saturday.
“Out of respect for the family, Centcom will not release any additional information, including the identity of the fallen warrior, until 24 hours after next of kin has been notified.”
In response to the death announcement, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wrote to “Thank God, heroes. Their sacrifice only strengthens our resolve.”
Iran’s state media said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) destroyed at least two US warplanes at its Al-Azraq base in Jordan on Saturday morning.
The BBC contacted Centcom regarding this report, but they declined to add further details.
Separately, the U.S. State Department issued a notice on Saturday advising Americans around the world, especially those in the Middle East, to exercise “heightened caution.”
The travel advisory urged local residents to “monitor news for disruptions in developments,” adding that “as tensions in the Middle East rise, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unexpected escalations.”
