Two U.S. troops killed in Iranian missile and drone barrage in Jordan

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Two U.S. troops were killed in action and one remains missing in Jordan on Friday while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks , U.S. Central Command announced on X. Another “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.”

“Out of respect for the families, CENTCOM is withholding additional information, including the identities of the fallen warriors, until 24 hours after the next of kin have been notified,” the command added.

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 did not say where in Jordan, however, yesterday, CBS News reported that “Iran attacked at least two Jordanian bases this week, resulting in several American service members being injured in the attack after their facility was struck.”

We noted yesterday that data from NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) at 10:59 PM EDT indicated a fire adjacent to the runway near an area where aircraft are parked at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. However, TWZ cannot independently verify what happened at the base and if any equipment was destroyed or damaged and how personnel there were affected. We’ve reached out to CENTCOM for answers.

Data provided by NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) indicated a fire at Muwaffaq Salti Friday night, however TWZ cannot confirm at this time what that indicates. (FIRMS)

We reached out to CENTCOM for confirmation.

Video emerged on social media purporting to show attacks on the base.

Video captures the moment that several Iranian medium to intermediate-range ballistic missiles struck Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan overnight, killing at least two and injuring several other American Servicemembers. pic.twitter.com/cJz39E1LvP

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) July 18, 2026

Muwaffaq Salti, as we have frequently reported , has come under attack numerous times. In March, CNN obtained imagery from Planet Labs showing an AN/TPY-2 radar damaged, or even possibly destroyed, following an Iranian attack there.

The air base has long been a major regional hub for U.S. operations, and is being very actively utilized in the current conflict. It hosts the greatest concentration of U.S. tactical aircraft in the region, and thus is an extremely important target, where, as we pointed out last night , even one ballistic missile landing on an apron could destroy multiple prized aircraft and take the lives of U.S. service members or cause injuries.

Iran also hit Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia yesterday, Axios reporter Barak Ravid stated on X.

U.S. official: Iran launched a ballistic missile at a U.S. base in Saudi Arabia

Why it matters: This is the first direct Iranian attack on Saudi Arabia in nearly four months

— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) July 17, 2026

In addition, officials in Kuwait yesterday said one of the country’s power and water desalination plants “was attacked as a result of the Iranian aggression…leading to a fire and damage to the plant’s facilities and several electricity generating units.”

“The fire is now under control and repairs are ongoing,” the Kuwait government added.

Kuwait announces one of its power and water desalinization plants "was attacked as a result of the Iranian aggression…leading to a fire and damage to the plant's facilities and several electricity generating units." The fire is now under control & repairs are ongoing. https://t.co/MrFcwkeTHr pic.twitter.com/LoxTCM4v92

— Steve Lookner (@lookner) July 17, 2026

The two deaths and the injuries came as the conflict between the U.S. and Iran is escalating rapidly, with each side now attacking critical infrastructure and Iran intensifying strikes on U.S. bases across the region.

Amid the fighting, “Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Qaribabadi stated that Tehran has suspended its commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Washington as United States attacks continue,” the official Fars News Agency reported .

Iran’s Deputy FM Announces Suspension of Islamabad MoU https://t.co/JGe10Es0Vy pic.twitter.com/B0w3VogImu

— Fars News Agency (@EnglishFars) July 18, 2026

This is a developing story.

Contact the author: howard@twz.com

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