Two U.S. service members were killed and one remained missing after Iran struck two military bases in Jordan on Friday, U.S. Central Command (Centcom) said. Centcom also said four American service members were medically evacuated to hospitals in Jordan following the attack and have since been discharged. Other troops who reported minor injuries were assessed and returned to duty. Centcom statement on casualtiesIn a statement posted on social media on Saturday, Centcom said it was withholding further information out of respect for the families of those affected. It said it will not release additional details, including the identities of the two service members who died, until 24 hours after the next of kin have been notified. The statement did not provide further detail on the circumstances of the deaths or the status of the missing service member beyond saying the person remained unaccounted for. Injured troops treated and back on dutyCentcom said the four service members transferred to hospitals were later discharged. It added that other personnel with minor injuries were examined and had returned to their duties. No further medical information was provided in the update. US-Iran tit-for-tat continuesThe attack came amid a broader escalation between the United States and Iran in recent weeks, with both sides conducting strikes in what has been described as tit-for-tat action. The exchanges have been linked to alleged breaches of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed last month that introduced a temporary ceasefire while negotiations were under way. President Trump has said his administration has no plan to renew the talks at this time. US officials respond; Iran warns of wider conflictHouse Speaker Mike Johnson said he was praying for the families of the service members killed, for the recovery of those injured and for the safe return of the missing service member. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also posted a message acknowledging the news, saying the sacrifice would strengthen the resolve of American forces. Iran has warned that it could move towards wider conflict if U.S. strikes do not stop. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, blamed the United States for repeated breaches of the ceasefire agreement and accused Washington of undermining the understanding agreed between the two countries’ leaderships. In a subsequent message, he warned the United States that Iran and allied forces would respond to any further escalation, saying it would bring “unforgettable lessons”. Khamenei took over after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes in late February on Tehran killed his father. He has not made public remarks since assuming the role. Join the discussion? 19 July 2026
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