Two US soldiers killed, one missing after Iranian strikes on military base in Jordan

Two United States service members have been killed while another remains missing following an Iranian missile and drone attack on a military installation in Jordan, marking one of the deadliest attacks on American forces since the latest escalation in the conflict between Washington and Tehran.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Saturday that the troops were killed while defending the base during a barrage of Iranian ballistic missiles and drones launched against American positions in Jordan. Four other service members were injured in the attack but have since been treated and discharged from hospitals in Jordan, while others with minor injuries have returned to duty.

CENTCOM said it was withholding the identities of the deceased pending notification of their families and gave no further details about the missing service member or the specific circumstances surrounding the attack.

The attack is the first direct Iranian strike to result in the deaths of U.S. troops since hostilities between the two countries intensified earlier this year. It comes amid an expanding regional conflict that has seen repeated exchanges of missile and drone attacks between Iran and U.S. forces and their allies across the Middle East.

Iran has in recent days launched coordinated attacks on military targets in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, claiming the strikes were in retaliation for sustained U.S. attacks on Iranian military installations and infrastructure. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had struck American military assets and radar facilities across the region, although independent verification of the claims remains limited.

Jordan has continued to intercept several missiles and drones crossing its airspace, but some projectiles reached military facilities hosting U.S. personnel. The latest attack underscores the growing vulnerability of American troops stationed across the region despite reinforced air defence systems.

The deaths are expected to increase pressure on the U.S. administration over its military strategy in the Middle East as the conflict with Iran enters a more dangerous phase. Washington has already intensified air strikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure, particularly around the strategic Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran has vowed to continue retaliatory operations if the attacks persist.

The latest escalation has also heightened fears of a broader regional war, with attacks disrupting critical infrastructure, threatening international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and fuelling fresh concerns over global energy supplies.