U.S. strikes Iran again after troop deaths
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Jordanian and U.S. forces join other international forces in an exercise near Azraq, Jordan, in 2024. Photo: Jordan Pix/Getty Images
The U.S. military launched fresh strikes against Iran on Sunday evening, after announcing the death of one American service member and the recovery of another's remains following an Iranian missile strike in Jordan.
The big picture: The deaths underscore the growing toll of the U.S.-Iran conflict as both countries continue military attacks and the risk of further escalation rises.
Driving the news: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces targeted Iranian military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and communications networks in a three-hour operation that ended at 10pm ET.
- It said earlier Sunday that the U.S. military had found the remains of a service member who went missing after an Iranian missile attack on a base in Jordan that killed two American troops.
- CENTCOM also revealed an American service member was killed Saturday in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone.
- The conflict has now killed 18 U.S. service members.
What they're saying: President Trump told reporters that the U.S. hit Iran "very hard again" on Sunday. "We feel very badly, but you know, those great people, those great patriots, were out there fighting that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," Trump said.
- "Iran has been very, very badly damaged. They've lost everything almost militarily. They've got very little left. They've got some missiles. They've got some drones. They've got some manufacturing ability, not much. We control the straight. They don't control anything."
Zoom in: At least two Iranian ballistic missiles struck the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, which hosts U.S. troops and fighter jets, on Friday.
- CENTCOM said in a statement the service member's remains were found after a thorough search and that an examination to verify the remains was ongoing.
- A second service member was wounded and received medical treatment for a minor injury, CENTCOM added.
- "CENTCOM is withholding additional information, including the identities of the missing and fallen warriors, out of respect for the families during the notification process," CENTCOM added.
Go deeper: Oil tops $90 as Middle East fighting escalates
Editor's note: This story has been updated with comment from President Trump and details of the latest U.S. strikes on Iran.
