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President Trump ordered a new round of U.S. airstrikes against Iran early Sunday after an Iranian attack on a U.S.-linked base in Jordan left at least two American troops dead, according to the report. U.S. Central Command said the strikes targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces believed responsible for the assault, hitting Iranian coastal surveillance sites, air defense facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage locations during what CENTCOM described as the eighth consecutive night of strikes.
Footage released by the military appeared to show the strikes carried out by fighter jets and sea-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles, with one target site located in a mountainous region, the report said. The IRGC attack Friday came as missiles and drones struck a base in Jordan, killing two U.S. service members and leaving another missing, military officials said. Media reports and social media video indicated the strike hit Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, which houses American forces, though officials did not officially confirm the location.
According to Pentagon data cited in the report, the deaths mark the first U.S. combat fatalities in the conflict since March, bringing the total to at least 16 troops killed and more than 400 wounded since the war began Feb. 28. Four additional service members were wounded in the Friday attack but have since been released from Jordanian hospitals, Pentagon officials said.
President Trump called the deaths “a very sad thing” in comments to NewsNation Saturday, saying, “We hate to see it happen. It’s in service to our country.”
The report noted that a “specific and credible threat” prompted Jordanian authorities to evacuate the airport and seaport in Aqaba, while Kuwait and Bahrain activated air defenses Sunday after warning of incoming Iranian drones and missiles. Both countries host key U.S. military installations.
The conflict has increasingly centered on control of the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran arguing a June memorandum of understanding gives it authority to manage strait traffic — a claim the Trump administration disputes. Mr. Trump has reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and is using U.S. forces to assist non-Iranian vessels transiting the strait. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said last week that Iran continues signaling interest in a deal, saying the country is “suffering devastating blows.” It remains unclear whether the latest deaths will affect ongoing diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran.
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