The U.S. military confirmed that two American service members were killed and one is missing in action following Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks on a military base in Jordan. The casualties mark the first U.S. deaths caused by direct Iranian fire since the opening days of the war.
According to a statement from U.S. Central Command, the service members were hit on Friday while U.S. and partner forces were actively defending against incoming aerial barrages. Four other American troops who sustained injuries were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals and have since been discharged. The identities of the deceased and missing personnel have not yet been released, pending family notification.
The deadly engagement in Jordan coincided with a severe geopolitical escalation across the Persian Gulf region. Concurrently, Iran launched synchronized drone and missile strikes against Kuwait, a prominent U.S. ally. The strikes forced Kuwait International Airport to temporarily halt all incoming and outgoing flight operations, leading to widespread scheduling disruptions by Kuwait Airways.
Local officials reported that Iranian projectiles struck a Kuwaiti oil facility, causing material damage and injuries, as well as a major power generation and water desalination plant.
Tehran also claimed responsibility for hitting U.S. military assets stationed in Bahrain, alleging that its long-range strikes struck aircraft hangars at Sheikh Isa Air Base. Furthermore, Iranian authorities announced new maritime operations inside the Strait of Hormuz, claiming to have intercepted four vessels and detonated explosives on two oil tankers. The U.S. military has formally denied Iran’s account of the maritime explosions.
Amid the rising violence, Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, issued a stark warning to the United States in a statement read by a presenter on state television. The address, which marks Khamenei’s first official remarks since the outbreak of the war, promised “unforgettable lessons” if American attacks continue. Khamenei also designated U.S. President Donald Trump’s signature as “worthless and invalid”. The broadcast followed an announcement by an Iranian negotiator stating that Tehran has suspended all commitments under the interim truce signed by both nations a month ago—an agreement originally intended to permanently end the war.
These synchronized developments follow a seventh consecutive night of U.S. military airstrikes on Iranian targets. U.S. Central Command stated that the continuous campaign is targeting underground weapons storage, surveillance hubs, and military logistics infrastructure. Conversely, Iranian state media accused the U.S. of intentionally striking civilian facilities, pointing to the destruction of a water desalination plant in Jask county that has reportedly left 10,000 residents without access to fresh water. The broadening of regional combat operations proceeds despite direct appeals from the United Nations for maximum restraint regarding civilian infrastructure.
Defending the expansive regional operations, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement through state-run channels: “Since there is no international institution to prevent the savagery of the US military, we have no path before us except the Quranic command: ‘Whoever attacks you, attack it in the same manner’.”
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