Two U.S. service members were killed and another remains missing following Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks that struck U.S. and partner forces in Jordan, U.S. Central Command announced on Saturday. The incident occurred on July 17, according to the military, which confirmed 2 fatalities and 1 missing service member.
In addition to the fatalities and the missing service member, four other American personnel were medically evacuated to hospitals within Jordan. These individuals have since been discharged. Other personnel who received treatment for minor injuries sustained during the attack have already returned to duty.
The military has stated it is withholding the names of the deceased and the missing service member to respect the privacy of their families. Official identities will not be released until at least 24 hours after next of kin have been notified.
The attack in Jordan took place amid an intensifying conflict between the United States and Iran across the Middle East. The casualties were confirmed shortly after Iran launched new strikes against U.S. allies, following a series of American strikes on Iranian military targets.
In a separate development, Iran targeted Kuwait with ballistic missiles and drones, hitting critical infrastructure and military-linked facilities. While Kuwaiti officials reported that air defenses intercepted several incoming threats, the strikes still caused damage to facilities and resulted in injuries to firefighters and oil sector workers. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed they targeted U.S. military support sites in Kuwait in retaliation for ongoing U.S. operations and warned of potential future attacks against American allies in the region.
U.S. Central Command noted that recent American strikes have focused on Iranian military assets deemed a threat to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, stated the campaign aims to protect civilian sailors and hold Iran accountable for attacks that have resulted in deaths, injuries, and missing crew members. President Donald Trump has defended the expanded military campaign, asserting that U.S. strikes will persist until Iran agrees to conditions ensuring regional security and freedom of navigation. Iranian leadership has pledged to continue resisting U.S. pressure, suggesting the conflict is unlikely to subside in the near term.
The military said it is withholding the identities of the fallen service members and the missing service member out of respect for their families. Additional information will not be released until at least 24 hours after next of kin have been notified.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on X @athompsonUSAT
