A US service member was killed and a second was wounded in northern Iraq on Saturday following an Iranian attack, according to the US military. US Central Command (Centcom) stated that the fatality occurred during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance originating from a downed Iranian attack drone. This incident follows a separate attack on a facility in Jordan just one day earlier, which resulted in the deaths of two US soldiers and left another individual missing.
Centcom reported that search teams at the Jordanian site have since discovered unidentified remains, and an examination process to verify those remains is currently underway.
These events occur as the United States and Iran continue an eight-day exchange of escalating strikes. Both nations have faced accusations of targeting critical infrastructure in recent days. Amid the ongoing hostilities, Washington has reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports, while Tehran has declared the Strait of Hormuz closed and targeted US allies across the region.
A preliminary ceasefire, which had been in place for less than a month, has now collapsed. Verified footage from inside the Jordanian facility shows at least two impacts and an explosion.
The total US death toll in the conflict has now reached 17, a figure that includes an American Navy pilot who was declared dead earlier this month after going missing. In Iran, the health ministry reported that at least 50 people have been killed and more than 500 injured in US strikes over the past three weeks. As attacks persisted on Sunday, Iranian media reported that an under-construction nuclear power plant in the south-western city of Darkhoveyn was struck overnight, along with Qeshm Island.
The UN's nuclear watchdog has called for restraint, noting that the Darkhoveyn site was in the very early stages of construction and contained no nuclear material during its last visit.
In Jordan, the military successfully shot down three Iranian missiles, while a fourth landed in a remote area, according to the state news agency. This followed a US warning that the port of Aqaba could be targeted. Jordan summoned Iran's charges d'affaires in Amman to demand an immediate end to what the foreign ministry described as unjustified and blatant Iranian attacks, insisting that its security is a red line that cannot be crossed.
Israel's military reported that several interceptors were launched toward missile debris to prevent impact within its territory, with fragments identified near the southern city of Eilat, though no damage or injuries were reported.
Separately, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that two vessels had ignored warnings not to transit the Strait of Hormuz and were subsequently involved in an accident. The IRGC warned that all vessels influenced by the US that use unsafe routes would face similar accidents. In Kuwait, local officials reported that an electricity and water plant struck on Saturday was hit again, resulting in a fire.
The Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, has accused Tehran of targeting civilian infrastructure, calling it a violation of international law.
Iran has accused the US of striking bridges, an airport, and a train station, while Washington maintains it has carried out strikes exclusively on military targets and logistics infrastructure. Late on Saturday, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei stated that America's repeated breaches of the agreement had laid bare a fundamental truth, asserting that the signature of the US president is utterly worthless and devoid of credibility.
Md. Kazi Bijoy is a dedicated tech enthusiast and content creator with a passion for digital innovation. With years of experience in the tech industry, he specializes in breaking down complex topics into easy-to-understand guides. When he isn’t writing, he explores the latest gadgets and researches emerging trends in the digital world.