US military identifies two soldiers killed in Iranian missile attack in Jordan
The United States on Monday (July 20) has identified two American soldiers killed in Jordan during Iranian missile and drone attacks, as Washington and Tehran
The United States on Monday (July 20) has identified two American soldiers killed in Jordan during Iranian missile and drone attacks, as Washington and Tehran edge closer to all-out war following the collapse of their interim ceasefire agreement. The Pentagon said 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, were killed while supporting a US mission against the Islamic State in Jordan. The exact circumstances of their deaths have not been disclosed. US Central Command said on Saturday (July 18) that two service members were killed while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth paid tribute to the fallen troops, writing on US-Iran conflict intensifies The latest fatalities underscore the widening scope of the conflict after an interim ceasefire signed last month broke down. Since then, the United States has resumed strikes on Iranian military and infrastructure targets, while Tehran has retaliated with attacks on US assets and allied countries across the Middle East. Iran launched strikes targeting Saudi Arabia, Jordan and other US partners after American forces attacked bridges, power facilities and other infrastructure inside Iran. In a statement carried by Iranian state media, supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei accused Washington of repeatedly violating the ceasefire agreement and said President Donald Trump's commitments were "utterly worthless and devoid of credibility." The conflict, which began in late February, has targeted civilian infrastructure, including bridges, ports, utilities and telecommunications facilities, raising fears of a prolonged regional war.
US military deaths rise to 17 The Pentagon said 17 US service members have now been killed since the conflict began. Among the earlier casualties Six American soldiers were killed in an Iranian drone strike on a civilian port in Kuwait shortly after the war began. Another soldier later died from injuries sustained in a missile attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. Six service members were killed when a KC-135 refuelling aircraft crashed in Iraq during operations supporting -the campaign against Iran. A Navy pilot also died in a helicopter crash in the Arabian Sea earlier this month. Another US service member was killed in northern Iraq while carrying out the controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian drone. Military officials noted that American personnel remain vulnerable across the Middle East despite not operating on the ground inside Iran. US launches ninth consecutive night of strikes The United States carried out a fresh wave of airstrikes across Iran early Monday, intensifying its military campaign before announcing the death of another American service member in Iraq. Iran retaliated by launching missile attacks toward Bahrain and Kuwait, further widening a conflict that has pushed the Middle East closer to a full-scale regional war.
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