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Two American service members were killed in action in Jordan on Thursday after Iranian ballistic missiles and drones struck positions defended by U.S. Central Command and partner forces, the military announced Saturday. A third service member remains missing.
Four others were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals and have since been discharged. Additional personnel who were evaluated for minor injuries have returned to duty.
CENTCOM said it would withhold the identities of the fallen service members until 24 hours after their next of kin have been notified, citing respect for the families.
Iran has mounted repeated retaliatory attacks on American positions since the United States and Israel opened a coordinated air campaign against Tehran on February 28, targeting its nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile program, and military command.
Iran has since responded with sustained missile and drone campaigns against U.S. military positions and allied nations across the broader Middle East, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and Jordan.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for a strike on the al-Azraq base in eastern Jordan, saying it had hit fighter jet shelters and a large aircraft parking area and destroyed at least two American aircraft. Those claims have not been independently verified by U.S. officials.
Jordan's military said its air defenses intercepted a number of Iranian missiles targeting its territory during the same assault.
Jordan, which hosts American military assets and has cooperated with U.S. and allied air defense operations, has been drawn repeatedly into the crossfire since fighting erupted in late February.
The al-Azraq area, home to the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base and infrastructure used by U.S. forces, has been targeted on multiple occasions by Iranian projectiles since the conflict began.
The broader war also triggered a temporary blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, causing sharp disruptions to global energy markets and significant casualties across the region. A conditional ceasefire was declared in April, but fighting resumed. The United States has now carried out seven consecutive nights of strikes against Iranian targets as of this week.
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