Two US service members were killed and another remains missing following an Iranian strike on the Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Saturday.
According to CENTCOM, the casualties occurred as the US and partner forces defended the base against an Iranian attack involving ballistic missiles and drones.
"On July 17, two US service members were killed in Jordan while performing their duties during the U.S. Central Command and partner forces' defense against attacks launched by Iran using ballistic missiles and drones. In addition, one service member remains among the missing," CENTCOM said in a statement.
The command added that four US service members injured in the attack were evacuated to hospitals in Jordan. All four have since been discharged, while other personnel treated for minor injuries have returned to duty.
Iran said it targeted fuel storage facilities at Jordan's Al-Azraq Air Base as part of the 14th phase of Operation Lightning. Tehran also claimed to have launched drone strikes on multiple US military installations in Jordan and Kuwait.
In response to the deaths of the two service members, the US military launched fresh airstrikes against Iran on Saturday. The Pentagon said the strikes were carried out at the direction of President Donald Trump and were intended to "swiftly punish" Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces responsible for the attacks on American personnel.
Speaking to NewsNation, Trump called the deaths of the two American service members "a very sad thing."
"We hate to see it happen. It's in service to our country," he said, while reiterating that Iran "must not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon."
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