Iran missile kills 2 US troops in Jordan

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- Iran launched at least two ballistic missiles at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, striking a base that hosts U.S. troops and fighter jets.
- U.S. military confirmed two service members were killed and one is missing after the attack, with four others evacuated to hospitals for treatment.
- CENTCOM conducted retaliatory strikes against Iranian targets on Saturday evening, aiming to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and punish IRGC forces responsible for the Jordan attack.
- U.S. officials reported four separate Iranian missile attacks on U.S.-occupied bases in Jordan over the past week, resulting in dozens of wounded troops and destroyed helicopters.
- Trump responded to the deaths by calling them 'a very sad thing' and dismissed Iranian claims of ending a June memorandum of understanding, saying 'I couldn't care less.'
Why it matters: The deaths mark the first U.S. combat fatalities since the conflict escalated, raising the total number of American troops killed to 16. With multiple attacks exposing defense vulnerabilities in Jordan and immediate retaliation underway, the cycle of strikes and counterstrikes increases the risk of broader regional conflict.


