The Pentagon has confirmed that two U.S. service members were killed in Jordan during Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks late Saturday night.
One additional U.S. service member is currently missing, while four American service members were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals and have since been discharged. Other personnel evaluated for minor injuries returned to duty after the attack.
“On July 17, two U.S. service members in Jordan were killed in action as U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. Additionally, one service member is currently missing,” U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed in a statement. “Out of respect for the families, CENTCOM will withhold additional information, including the identities of the fallen warriors, until 24 hours after the next of kin have been notified,” the statement added.
The attacks targeted Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, a facility used by Jordanian and U.S. coalition forces. Iranian forces claimed responsibility for the attacks and stated that additional military operations would continue as the ceasefire between the two sides has effectively broken down.
This event represents the first publicly reported U.S. military deaths resulting from enemy action in the U.S.-Iran conflict since March 2026. Across the conflict to date, 16 U.S. service members have been killed and more than 425 others have been injured.
Footage shows at least two Iranian ballistic missile impacts at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. Several MIM-104 Patriot interceptors can be seen being launched, but at least two Iranian missiles still penetrated the air defenses and struck the base.
Despite launching… https://t.co/4L5zWPX2sX pic.twitter.com/xLXPYkAc4J
— OSINTWarfare (@OSINTWarfare) July 17, 2026
The broader conflict originated with coordinated U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iranian targets that began on February 28. Operations continued for several weeks, with Iran launching strikes on multiple U.S. military installations in the region and oil infrastructure in the Gulf States, until a tentative ceasefire was agreed to in mid-April.
That agreement largely held, with sporadic flare-ups of hostilities in-between, until the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) last month. The agreement, which was brokered with the help of Pakistan and other regional partners, established a 60-day window for further negotiations in order to extend the ceasefire.
Talks have largely broken down as of this report, however, as the U.S. has launched multiple attacks against Iranian targets in response to attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump stated that he viewed the agreement as effectively “over” while speaking with NATO leaders in Turkey earlier this month, while the Iranian regime announced that it was formally backing out of the agreement on Saturday morning.
CENTCOM carried out additional strikes earlier in the day Saturday, while additional military operations are expected to continue.
