US and Iran exchange strikes after Jordan attack kills two service members
Washington reimposes port blockade and declares Strait of Hormuz closed following collapse of June ceasefire, while military death toll rises to 16.
The United States and Iran have engaged in a reciprocal exchange of military force following an attack in Jordan that killed two US service members and left one missing. US Central Command (Centcom) launched air strikes against Iranian coastal surveillance and air defence facilities on Saturday night, marking the eighth consecutive night of operations aimed at degrading Iran’s capacity to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Centcom stated that the strikes targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) units linked to the incident in Jordan. Iranian state media confirmed that Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz was among the sites struck. The military command clarified that the operations were designed to swiftly punish the IRGC forces responsible for the attack on American service members, while simultaneously working to secure vital maritime routes.
In response to the US offensive, Iran’s army reported carrying out drone attacks on two US bases in Kuwait. According to the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency, the Iranian military executed large-scale attacks with kamikaze drones against the US military depot at Camp Udairi and Ali Al Salem Air Base.
The escalation marks a definitive end to diplomatic efforts initiated earlier this year. Washington and Tehran had struck a preliminary deal to end the war in June, but the agreement unravelled within weeks. President Donald Trump formally declared the ceasefire over on 8 July, after which Washington reimposed a blockade of Iranian ports and Tehran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed.
The human cost of the conflict has risen significantly, with the US military death toll now at 16. This figure follows the declaration of death for an American Navy pilot who went missing earlier in the month. Centcom confirmed that two service members were killed in action in Jordan while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks, with one additional member missing. Out of respect for their families, the command withheld the identities of the fallen until next of kin were notified.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the losses in a statement on X, writing: "Godspeed, heroes. Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve." The sustained military campaign, which began in February, continues to intensify as both sides accuse each other of striking critical infrastructure, with no immediate prospects for a return to negotiations.
