US Carries Out Fresh Strikes on Iran After Soldier Deaths in Jordan
The United States military launched new strikes on Sunday targeting Iranian forces, following a deadly attack on American service members in Jordan. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) described the operation as the eighth consecutive night of strikes aimed at 'swiftly punishing' the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for attacks that killed two US soldiers.
According to CENTCOM, the strikes were ordered by US President Donald Trump and targeted Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defence facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites. The command stated that the operation was 'designed to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.'
Two US soldiers were killed on Friday while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks, CENTCOM confirmed. Another service member remains missing. In total, 16 US military personnel have been killed since hostilities escalated on February 28, the US has said.
Iranian state broadcaster reported that fuel tanks at the Al-Azraq US base in Jordan were targeted in the attacks. The day before, Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for attacking US aircraft stationed in the country with missiles and drones.
The US resumed strikes earlier this month, accusing Tehran of targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. In response, Iran has attacked American military sites in Gulf countries.
The new strikes come a month after the US and Iran signed a preliminary 14-point deal aimed at ending the conflict. The agreement, signed on June 17, called for an immediate cessation of military operations and committed both sides to a final agreement within 60 days. However, President Trump declared the deal 'over' on July 8, and Tehran later suspended the memorandum of understanding, accusing Washington of violating its commitments.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father Ali Khamenei after he was killed in strikes on February 28, condemned the US actions. In a statement posted on social media, he said the 'repeated breaches of the agreement by the Great Satan have once again laid bare a fundamental truth: the signature of the US President is utterly worthless and devoid of credibility.' He added that 'the noble nation of Iran and the Resistance Front have unforgettable lessons in store for it.'
Major General Mohsen Rezaei, senior military adviser to Khamenei, warned that Iran would resume 'full-scale offensive operations' if US strikes continued in the coming days, stating that Iran would 'no longer limit itself to retaliatory, like-for-like responses.'
