Two US service members were killed and one remains missing following Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks in Jordan on Friday, July 17th, 2026, US military officials confirmed.

US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees US military operations in the Middle East, stated that four additional US service members were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals but have since been discharged. The identities of the deceased and details about the incident's location in Jordan have not been disclosed out of respect for the families.

Jordan's military reported intercepting 10 Iranian missiles fired into its airspace overnight without any reported damage. Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have destroyed at least two US fighter aircraft at Al-Azraq base in Jordan, according to Iranian state media.

The conflict's US death toll has risen to 16 this week, including an American Navy pilot declared dead earlier this month after going missing.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) condemned the recent Iranian attacks on Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain, labeling them as a "war crime" and a "highly dangerous escalation," particularly due to the targeting of civilian infrastructure.

Legal experts have stated that attacks by both sides violate international law.

Late on Saturday, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei criticized the United States, saying America's "repeated breaches" of agreements have "laid bare a fundamental truth: the signature of the US president is utterly worthless and devoid of credibility."

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth responded to the announcement of the deaths on social media platform X.

The escalation in attacks between Iran and the US has raised concerns about a potential return to full-scale war across the region.

Sources