Iranian Missile Attack on Jordan Air Base Kills US Service Members, First Combat Deaths Since March
On Friday, July 17-18, 2026, at least two Iranian ballistic missiles struck the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, used by Jordanian and US coalition forces. US Central Command said two service members were killed while partner forces defended against the ballistic missile and drone attack and another was initially missing; a third service member died in Iraq, bringing the toll from the attacks to three. Four more Americans were medically evacuated to hospitals in Jordan and later discharged. These were the first hostile US deaths since March, bringing the total killed in the war with Iran to at least 17. At Trump's direction the US launched retaliatory strikes the same day, completing an eighth consecutive night of attacks and targeting the IRGC units that launched the missiles. The deaths came five days before the House passed its second Iran war powers resolution.
“I just hope we go ahead and finish the job in Iran.”