2 US service members killed, another missing as Iran launches attack on Jordan

Two US service members were killed in Jordan on July 17 while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks, the US Central Command (Centcom) said on Saturday. Centcom said one more service member was missing in action, while four US personnel were evacuated to hospitals in Jordan and later discharged. The identities of the two deceased service members will be withheld until their next of kin are notified, Centcom said, adding that further details would be released after informing their families.

Centcom's statement followed claims by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that it had carried out an attack on a US base in Jordan's Al Azraq. Iranian state television reported that the missile and drone strike destroyed at least two US fighter aircraft and three other aircraft. This wasn't the first Iranian attack on the base. On July 9, Iran fired 10 ballistic missiles at the US military base. However, the Jordanian military was able to intercept eight missiles, leading to no casualties or damage.