The United States military announced Saturday that two American soldiers lost their lives and a third is still unaccounted for after Iranian missile and drone strikes targeted US forces in Jordan, as the fighting between Washington and Tehran stretched into a seventh consecutive night.
US Central Command reported that four other service members were taken to medical facilities following the attack but have since been released. Officials offered no additional details regarding the missing soldier or the specific circumstances of the casualties.
With these latest deaths, the total number of American fatalities in the conflict has reached 16. That figure already included a US Navy pilot who had been reported missing earlier this month and was subsequently declared dead. This marks the second time this week that the death toll has risen.
Jordan had previously reported intercepting 10 incoming missiles without suffering any damage to its territory.
In the span from Friday evening into Saturday, the US military carried out its seventh straight night of strikes. Iran responded by launching attacks against American assets in Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait.
As the military conflict continued, the war of words between the two governments also grew louder. Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei declared in a statement that a previous memorandum of understanding meant to bring the conflict to an end was now “useless,” blaming what he called violations by the United States.
“Now that the American enemy seeks to ignite further war, impose even heavier costs, and suffer even greater disgrace, it should know that the noble Iranian nation and the Axis of Resistance have unforgettable lessons in store for it,” Khamenei added.
Last week, President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire finished, signaling a continued breakdown in relations between the US and Iran. Despite that, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Thursday that diplomatic negotiations with Iran were still ongoing.
