2 US service members die in Iranian attack on Jordan base, 1 missing
Two soldiers killed, one missing after missile attack
Two U.S. service members were killed and one remains missing after Iranian missile and drone attacks in Jordan on July 17, according to U.S. Central Command. Four other service members were treated at hospitals and later discharged.
Two U.S. service members died Friday while defending a Jordanian base from an Iranian aerial assault, the U.S. military reported. Several other service members were also injured, and one other person is still missing.
What we know:
On Saturday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) released details on the attack, explaining that U.S. and allied forces were defending the base from a ballistic missile and drone attack by Iran.
Among those injured, four Americans were taken to Jordanian hospitals for treatment and have since been released, CENTCOM explained. Multiple others were treated at the scene.
What we don't know:
The names of the two fallen service members were not released at this time out of respect for their families. The CENTCOM statement did not provide any details about the service member who went missing.
Details of the attack, outside of the use of ballistic missiles and drones, were not released. The military did not describe the size or say when it happened on Friday, nor did it provide information on potential casualties among partner forces or the civilian population.
n infographic titled "US strikes on Iran and Iranâs retaliatory attacks" created in Ankara, Turkiye on July 17, 2026. (Photo by Omar Zaghloul/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Dig deeper:
The service members’ deaths were the first since the opening days of the conflict with Iran. In all, 16 U.S. service members have died and over 430 have been injured, according to the military.
RELATED: Pentagon’s official tally of US deaths in Iran war climbs to 14 after Navy pilot dies
Big picture view:
Shortly before the CENTCOM announcement, Iran’s supreme leader released a statement threatening "unforgettable lessons" if the U.S. continued its ongoing attacks on his country. The statement, however, was only read on state TV and attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei, who still has not been seen since the start of the war.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from CENTCOM and The Associated Press. This story was reported from Orlando.