CENTCOM Announces Deaths Of Two American Service Members After Iranian Ballistic Missile, Drone Attacks

Two American service members died Friday in Jordan from Iranian missile and drone strikes following the President Donald Trump’s declaring an end to the ceasefire and ordering a full week of airstrikes.

United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Saturday that two American service members were killed in action, four were wounded, and one is missing after the U.S. military and allies defended against Iranian attacks. The attacks followed the U.S. military’s conducting seven days of airstrikes against Iran, according to a Friday press release from CENTCOM.

The four servicemembers who were wounded during the Iranian attack were discharged to Jordanian hospitals and have since been discharged, according to CENTCOM.

These casualties bring the total death toll of the Iran War up to 16 U.S. service members, with over 430 wounded, according to The Associated Press (AP). Over 3,000 Iranians have also been killed in the conflict since Feb. 28, according to Reuters, citing Iranian state media. Other American service members were also evaluated for minor injuries, but have since returned to action, according to CENTCOM.

CENTCOM Statement on Recently Fallen, Missing U.S. Service Members

TAMPA, Fla. — On July 17, two U.S. service members in Jordan were killed in action as U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. Additionally,…

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 18, 2026

CENTCOM referred the Daily Caller News Foundation’s (DCNF) request for additional comment to its Saturday press release.

“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,” it states.

Since the U.S.-Iran ceasefire deteriorated July 7, Iran has launched attacks into or against at least seven countries: Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Syria, and Iraq, according to reporting by multiple outlets.

The U.S. strikes in recent days have targeted highways, bridges, energy sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities, according to multiple press releases from CENTCOM, AP, and Reuters.

The Saturday announcement by CENTCOM contrasts with an earlier CENTCOM X post from Friday stating “[n]o U.S. troops in the region have recently been killed or captured.”

CLAIM: Iranian forces claim they attacked al-Tanf Garrison in Syria and captured or killed American troops in the process. FALSE.

✅ FACT: No U.S. troops in the region have recently been killed or captured. pic.twitter.com/8TTHb7qYbT

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 17, 2026

Iran state media, in turn, claimed the U.S. military’s recent strikes included an attack on the Bounji desalination plant which provided fresh water to over 10,000 people. If such a claim is true, the attack could violate the Geneva Convention’s Principle of Proportionality.

“If an attack on even something that is being used for military purposes creates civilian harm that is clearly in excess, or is anticipated to create civilian harm clearly, in excess to any military value gained, that too makes the attack a violation of the laws of armed conflict of the Geneva Conventions,” Gabor Rona, a professor of practice at Cardozo Law School, previously told the DCNF.