Amid escalating military conflict between the United States and Iran, two U.S. soldiers were killed and one is missing following an Iranian missile and drone attack. This marks the first instance of U.S. casualties from a direct Iranian attack since the war began, raising concerns about further deterioration in the Middle East situation.
According to Yonhap News on July 19, U.S. Central Command reported that on July 17, two U.S. soldiers stationed in Jordan were killed and one went missing while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks.
While the Central Command did not disclose the exact location of the attack, foreign media outlets suggest it targeted a U.S. Air Force base in Jordan. The dpa news agency speculated that the Azraq Air Base, located about 100 kilometers northeast of the capital Amman, was the site of the attack.
This incident marks the first combat-related death of a U.S. soldier since the outbreak of war in February. According to the Associated Press, the total number of U.S. military deaths since the conflict began has now reached 16, with injuries exceeding 430. However, the significance of this being the first death caused by a direct Iranian attack cannot be understated.
Notably, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran effectively lost its validity after Iran attacked civilian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on July 7. Following this, the U.S. conducted airstrikes on Iranian military facilities near the Strait of Hormuz for seven consecutive days, while Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. bases in allied countries, including Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, escalating tensions further.
The news of the U.S. military casualties is expected to pose a significant political burden for President Donald Trump, especially as anti-war sentiment grows in the U.S. Conversely, there may be increased calls for retaliation against Iran, potentially leading to intensified U.S. airstrikes.
Additionally, Central Command reported that four injured U.S. soldiers were transported to a local hospital in Jordan, where they received treatment and have since been discharged, while other personnel with minor injuries have already returned to duty.
The identities of the deceased soldiers will not be released until 24 hours after their families have been notified, according to Central Command.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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