US military death toll rises to 16 as Iranian strikes hit Jordan and Saudi Arabia
Two US service members were killed in an Iranian missile attack in Jordan, while Tehran launched its first strikes on Saudi Arabia in months, escalating the battle for control of the critical waterway.
Two US servicemen have been killed following an Iranian missile strike in Jordan, raising the total American military death toll in the ongoing conflict to 16. US Central Command confirmed the deaths but did not disclose the identities of the service members, citing respect for their families. The incident marks a significant escalation in hostilities, occurring simultaneously with Tehran striking Saudi Arabia for the first time in months.
The attack on Jordan coincides with a heightened battle for control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global energy supplies. Iran’s military command, specifically the Khatam al-Anbiya command, announced on Thursday that the waterway was closed and threatened to target any ship transiting the route. This declaration followed Iranian strikes on two vessels attempting to pass through the strategic channel.
Despite these claims, US Central Command has explicitly denied that the Strait of Hormuz is closed, stating that commercial ships continue to transit the area. The conflicting reports highlight the volatility of the situation, which has severely disrupted shipping traffic since Iran effectively closed the waterway to commercial traffic in late February. In response to the disruption, the United States has reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
The broader conflict has seen rapid escalation in recent days. Early Thursday, Iran time, US forces fired 49 Tomahawk missiles in a raid on southern Iran. In retaliation for previous attacks, Iranian forces have fired missiles at Israeli targets, while Israel has conducted strikes on military sites in western and central Iran, including Tehran, Tabriz, and Isfahan.
Iranian authorities have reported at least 50 killed and over 500 wounded in US strikes, though casualty figures remain subject to verification. The death of the two servicemen in Jordan brings the total US military fatalities to 16, a number that includes an American Navy pilot declared dead earlier in the month after going missing.
