First US fatalities in Iran conflict as regional infrastructure targeted
US Central Command confirms two service members killed and one missing in action following Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks, while Washington launches seventh night of strikes on Iranian military sites.
Two US service members were killed and one remains missing in action following Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks on a base in Jordan, US Central Command confirmed on Saturday. The incident, which occurred on Friday, marks the first confirmed US deaths resulting from direct Iranian fire since the commencement of the Iran war. US and allied forces defended against the assault, and four other service members who were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals were subsequently discharged.
The attack coincided with the United States launching its seventh night of strikes on Iranian military infrastructure overnight on Friday. In response, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, issued a written statement read on state television, accusing Washington of breaching the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. The statement warned of "unforgettable lessons" if US attacks continued and described the US president's signature as "worthless and invalid."
Regional infrastructure has come under significant strain as the conflict expands. Kuwait accused Iran of targeting civilian sites and vital infrastructure, reporting hits on an oil facility and a power and water plant that resulted in fires and injuries to firemen and workers. Kuwait International Airport temporarily suspended operations, leading Kuwait Airways to reschedule most flights due to the closure of Kuwaiti airspace.
Tensions also escalated in Lebanon, where the Israeli military struck a Hezbollah cell near Tebnit after identifying a Hezbollah drone, citing a violation of ceasefire understandings. Hezbollah held a mass funeral in Majdal Selm, burying 44 people, including 39 fighters. Meanwhile, a Lebanese soldier was killed and two others wounded when a suspicious object exploded in an army vehicle in Mansouri.
Diplomatic efforts continue amidst the violence, with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun departing for Washington to meet Donald Trump. The President is expected to discuss the ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese regions. In Iran, state media reported the execution of a man convicted of killing a security forces member during the 2022 unrest, while US strikes in the Hormozgan province killed three people and wounded eight.
