Two US troops killed, one missing after Iranian attack in Jordan

LONDON, July 19: Two US service members were killed and another remains missing after Iran launched ballistic missile and drone attacks on Jordan on Friday, according to the US military, the BBC reported.

The US Central Command (Centcom) said four American service members injured in the attack were evacuated to hospitals in Jordan and have since been discharged, while others with minor injuries have returned to duty, the BBC stated.

US military officials did not identify the two personnel killed or reveal where or how the incident occurred, saying further information would be withheld until their families had been notified, the BBC reported.

Centcom said the United States carried out another round of airstrikes against Iran on Saturday night on the orders of President Donald Trump. The strikes marked the eighth consecutive night of US attacks and were intended to weaken Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the BBC said.

The US military also said the latest strikes were aimed at punishing Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces that launched attacks on American troops in Jordan the previous night. Centcom did not disclose additional operational details, the BBC reported.

The latest escalation comes after a week of renewed hostilities. Washington reimposed its blockade on Iranian ports, while Tehran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed after a preliminary ceasefire collapsed less than a month after taking effect, the BBC stated.

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei accused the United States of repeatedly violating the ceasefire agreement, saying the actions had proved that the US president's commitments lacked credibility. In a written statement issued late Saturday, he also accused Washington of seeking to widen the conflict and warned that Iran had "unforgettable lessons" in store for the United States, the BBC reported.

Jordan's military said it intercepted 10 Iranian missiles that entered its airspace overnight and reported no damage from the attack, according to the BBC.

The latest deaths bring the number of US military personnel killed during the conflict to 16 after an American Navy pilot who had been missing earlier this month was officially declared dead. It marks the second increase in the US death toll this week, the BBC said.

In its statement, Centcom confirmed that two US service members were killed while defending against Iranian missile and drone attacks alongside partner forces, while another remains missing. The military said it would not release the identities of the fallen until next of kin had been informed, the BBC reported.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth paid tribute to the fallen troops in a post on X, writing, "Godspeed, heroes. Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve," the BBC stated.

Meanwhile, the IRGC claimed it destroyed at least two US fighter aircraft at Jordan's Al Azraq Air Base early Saturday, according to Iranian state media. The BBC said it sought comment from Centcom on the claim, but the US military declined to provide further details.

Separately, the US State Department issued a worldwide security advisory urging Americans, particularly those in the Middle East, to exercise increased caution. It warned that the regional security situation remains volatile and advised travelers to closely monitor developments because of the potential for further escalation, the BBC reported.