Two American troops killed in Iranian attack on Jordan; US retaliates with fresh strikes
PTC News Desk: The United States carried out fresh airstrikes on Iran early Sunday after President Donald Trump approved the operation, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM).
The strikes came just hours after two US service members were killed while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks in Jordan.
CENTCOM said one more American service member is still missing, while four others were injured but have since been discharged from hospitals in Jordan. The identities of the two soldiers who died have not been released as their families are yet to be informed.
"The strikes are designed to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night," read their tweet.
According to CENTCOM, the latest operation was aimed at weakening Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes also targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces that the US says were responsible for the attack in Jordan.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the deaths of the two American troops would strengthen the country's resolve. He said their sacrifice would only reinforce Washington's determination.
Meanwhile, Iran warned that the conflict could escalate further. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said the United States would face "unforgettable lessons" from Iran and its allies. He accused Washington of repeatedly violating agreements between the two countries and claimed that President Donald Trump's commitments could not be trusted.
His remarks came after a ceasefire between the two sides collapsed last week, leading to renewed attacks and raising fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East.
The latest tensions have largely focused on the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route through which nearly 20 per cent of the world's oil supply passes.
Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran's parliamentary National Security Commission, warned that US troops would quickly flee if they understood the consequences of Iran's threats. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei also accused the United States of trying to take control of the strategic waterway.
The United States, however, has accused Iran of threatening commercial ships and targeting vessels that do not follow Iranian checkpoints, claiming Tehran is trying to dominate traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
- With inputs from agencies
