Three US service members have been killed after Iranian forces struck American military facilities in Jordan with ballistic missiles and kamikaze drones, the Pentagon has reported.
According to a statement released by the US Central Command on Saturday, the casualties were incurred the previous day as American troops “and partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks.”
Additionally, another US soldier was killed “during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone“ in Iraq.
In a post on X, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth confirmed the death of two US service members, adding that “their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve.”
US President Donald Trump had posted nothing on Truth Social for more than 24 hours and offered only a brief response when NewsNation asked him about the deaths.
“It’s very sad, it’s a very sad thing. We hate to see it happen. It’s in service to our country,” he said, before reiterating that Washington would “never” allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon.
“Have you ever asked how many people died in Vietnam? Have you ever asked how many people died in Afghanistan in one day?” Trump told the New York Post in another brief phone interview.
The latest incident marks the first time American troops have been killed since the conflict between Washington and Tehran reignited earlier this month, Axios has reported. This brings the total death toll for US forces to 16 since the US and Israel launched their military campaign against the Islamic Republic in late February.
