On Saturday, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that two American military personnel were killed in combat on Friday in Jordan while defending an airbase from an Iranian missile and drone attack.
The fate of a third soldier is currently unknown.
According to CENTCOM's official statement, released from Tampa, Florida, the assault occurred on July 17 when Central Command forces and their allies successfully countered the Iranian offensive. Four additional service members were transported to Jordanian hospitals for treatment and later released, while those with minor injuries returned to active duty.
The incident took place at the Al Azraq Airbase (also known as Muwaffaq Salti Airbase), situated approximately 100 kilometers east of Amman in Zarqa Governorate.
This facility hosts the U.S. 407th Air Expeditionary Group, MQ-9 Reaper drones, and Jordanian F-16 squadrons and has been a strategic site for operations against ISIS since 2014.
Al Azraq has been a recurrent target for Iranian attacks in July. On July 9, Iran launched 10 ballistic missiles at the base, with Jordan successfully intercepting eight, resulting in no casualties.
On July 15, another drone assault aimed to damage communication systems, fuel depots, radars, and U.S. F-18 fighters.
Iran has framed these attacks as part of "Operation Saeqeh" (Lightning), a retaliatory move against U.S. bombings of Iranian military targets.
Since the conflict reignited on July 8, following President Donald Trump's termination of the "Islamabad Memorandum" due to Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. has conducted at least five bombing campaigns against over 300 Iranian military objectives.
In retaliation, Iran targeted U.S. bases in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. On Saturday, Tehran announced the formal suspension of the agreement with Washington, further escalating tensions.
The casualties on Friday are the first confirmed by CENTCOM since hostilities resumed on July 7. In the prior phase of the conflict, which began in February 2026, the U.S. had already confirmed six military deaths, all in Kuwait, bringing the total number of U.S. casualties in this conflict to a new high.
President Trump vowed to respond with "the full force of the United States" and personally attended the ceremony for the repatriation of the remains in Dover, Delaware, blaming the Biden administration for the security situation in the Middle East.
CENTCOM stated that "out of respect for the families, additional information, including the identities of the fallen soldiers, will be withheld for 24 hours after the next of kin have been notified."
Key Details on Recent U.S.-Iran Hostilities
What triggered the recent U.S.-Iran conflict escalation?
The escalation was triggered by President Donald Trump's decision to terminate the "Islamabad Memorandum" after Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Where did the recent Iranian attacks take place?
Iranian attacks targeted U.S. bases in several countries including Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
How did the U.S. respond to the Iranian attacks?
The U.S. launched at least five bombing campaigns against more than 300 Iranian military targets as a response.