WASHINGTON, D.C. — July 18, 2026 – Two U.S. service members were killed and one remains missing in action after Iranian ballistic missiles and drones struck a U.S.-used air base in Jordan on July 17, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
The attack targeted Muwaffaq Salti Air Base (MSAB), also known as Azraq Air Base, a key facility in eastern Jordan that hosts U.S. fighter jets and supports operations against Iranian targets. Four additional U.S. personnel were wounded in the strike but have since been treated and discharged. Other service members sustained minor injuries and returned to duty.
CENTCOM confirmed the deaths occurred as U.S. and partner forces defended against the Iranian barrage. Identities of the fallen and missing service members are being withheld pending notification of next of kin. This incident raises the confirmed U.S. military death toll in the ongoing conflict with Iran to 16.
In the immediate aftermath, the U.S. military launched additional airstrikes on Iranian targets. CENTCOM stated the operations are designed to “further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the deadly attack “only stiffens our resolve.”
The strike on the Jordanian base comes amid a sharp escalation in the months-long U.S.-Iran conflict, which began with major U.S. and Israeli operations earlier in 2026. Iran has conducted retaliatory attacks on U.S. and allied positions across the region, including recent strikes on facilities in Kuwait. The fighting has also involved threats to international shipping in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Social media accounts, including the geopolitics-focused @BRICSinfo, reported that President Trump ordered the U.S. military to “open the gates of hell” on Iran following the deaths of the two soldiers. The dramatic phrasing echoes previous strong statements by President Trump regarding Iran during earlier phases of the conflict. Official White House or Pentagon confirmation of the exact wording of any new directive was not immediately available as of late July 18.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for the Jordan attack, asserting it struck U.S. military support sites in retaliation for ongoing American operations.
The situation remains fluid, with both sides showing no immediate signs of de-escalation. U.S. officials have emphasized that strikes will continue until Iran ceases attacks on American forces and guarantees freedom of navigation in key waterways.
About The Author
