Two US service members were killed and one remains missing after Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks in Jordan on Friday, military officials said.
The US Central Command (Centcom) said four US service members were medically evacuated to Jordan hospitals but have since been discharged. Others who had minor injuries have returned to duty.
US military officials did not disclose the identities of those killed, nor provide details about the circumstances or location of the incident.
It followed a week of renewed hostilities in which Washington reimposed its blockade of Iranian ports and Tehran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, as their preliminary ceasefire collapsed less than a month after it began.
Late on Saturday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in a written statement that America’s “repeated breaches” of the agreement had “laid bare a fundamental truth: the signature of the US president is utterly worthless and devoid of credibility”.
Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since the attack which killed his father at the start of the war, accused the US of seeking to “escalate the conflict” and said Iran had “unforgettable lessons in store for it”.
Jordan’s military earlier said it had intercepted 10 Iranian missiles fired into its airspace overnight, without reporting any damage.
The US death toll in the conflict has now risen to 16 after an American Navy pilot who went missing earlier this month was declared dead, marking the second increase in the toll this week.
In a statement on Saturday, Centcom said: “Two US service members in Jordan were killed in action as US Central Command (Centcom) and partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. Additionally, one service member is currently missing.
“Out of respect for the families, Centcom will withhold additional information, including the identities of the fallen warriors, until 24 hours after the next of kin have been notified.”
Responding to the announcement of the deaths, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X: “Godspeed, heroes. Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve.”
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had destroyed at least two US fighter aircraft early on Saturday on Al-Azraq base in Jordan, according to Iranian state media.
The BBC contacted Centcom regarding this report but it declined to add further details.
Separately on Saturday, the US Department of State issued a notice advising Americans worldwide, but particularly in the Middle East, to exercise “increased caution”.
The travel notice urged those in the region to “monitor the news for breaking developments”, adding: “Due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation.”
