2 US service members killed defending against Iranian attack, CENTCOM says

WASHINGTON, DC: Amid renewed tensions and continuous exchange of strikes between the US and Iran, two US service members lost their lives in an Iranian attack on a US base in Jordan last night, CENTCOM reported on Saturday, July 18.

The US military on Saturday said it carried out the seventh consecutive night of strikes on Iran since President Donald Trump declared their temporary ceasefire agreement "over."

CENTCOM reports two dead, one missing in Jordan

"On July 17, 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," US Central Command wrote on X. 

"Additionally, one service member is currently missing," the CENTCOM statement further read.

"Four American service members were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals. They have since been discharged. Other personnel who were evaluated for minor injuries have returned to duty," it continued.

"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," the post concluded.

Renewed US strikes hit Iranian military infrastructure

CENTCOM said its forces "hit surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities."

Friday's strikes marked a week of renewed hostilities, with the US reimposing a blockade on Iranian ports, and Tehran declaring the Strait of Hormuz closed after a preliminary deal to end the war collapsed less than a month after it was signed.

Iran responds by attacking US allies

Iran said it responded by targeting US allies in the region, including Kuwait, which said a power plant, water distillation plant, and an oil facility had been hit.

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."

Mohsen Rezaei, an advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, claimed that “no political border will provide security against Iran's offensive forces” if US strikes continue.

“Both diplomacy and negotiations, as well as war, are over; if America continues the war in the next 2-3 days, we will enter the stage of the enemy's ‘full-scale invasion and annihilation,’” he wrote on X on Friday.

"In the event of activating this strategy, we will no longer settle for retaliation in kind, and no political border will provide security against Iran's offensive forces,” Rezaei added.