Iran Missiles Kill 2 U.S. Troops at Jordan Base
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- Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on Saturday, killing two U.S. service members and leaving one missing in action, per CENTCOM.
- CENTCOM said four additional American service members were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals and discharged, while others treated for minor injuries returned to duty.
- The Muwaffaq Salti Air Base hosts U.S. troops and fighter jets, and social-media videos captured the missile impacts and heavy smoke at the site right after the strike.
- The deaths bring the total number of U.S. service members killed in the war to 16 and mark the first fatalities since fighting resumed two weeks ago.
- CENTCOM posted on X that U.S. and partner forces "defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks," without detailing interception outcomes.
- The strike landed at a base that has previously hosted joint U.S.-Jordanian exercises, highlighting the expanding geographic reach of the conflict onto allied territory.
Why it matters: The first U.S. combat deaths in two weeks push the war's U.S. toll to 16 and bring the fighting onto Jordanian soil — a host-nation base used by American fighter jets. The combination of ballistic missiles and drones, alongside a missing service member, signals an escalation in Iran's willingness to strike coalition assets directly rather than proxy targets.
