🕯️ Two American service members were killed while defending Jordan against Iranian attacks: CENTCOM confirmed that the troops were killed in action on July 17 as U.S. and partner forces responded to ballistic missiles and drones. One service member remains missing.
Four additional troops were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals and later discharged. Other personnel treated for minor injuries returned to duty. CENTCOM said the identities of the fallen would be withheld until 24 hours after their families were notified.
A U.S. official told The New York Times that several military helicopters were damaged at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base.
Reuters reported that President Trump was extremely angry after receiving the casualty reports and ordered a strong response. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the deaths would strengthen American resolve.
At the time of reporting, a military source told CBS that broader attacks were about to begin. NPR cited a U.S. official saying Trump had instructed CENTCOM to open “the gates of hell” on Iran.
🛰️ U.S. officials say Iran has adapted its missile tactics: Officials told The Wall Street Journal that Iran is using extremely fast missiles capable of maneuvering during descent, complicating American interception efforts.
Iran’s success in striking sensitive targets has also raised concerns among U.S. officials that Tehran may be receiving targeting assistance from China or Russia.
🚢 An IRGC naval unit opened fire on a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz: Iran’s Tasnim News Agency said the Thai-flagged ship had ignored warnings and attempted to transit the strait without authorization.
⚠️ Iran threatened to extend its attacks to additional Gulf infrastructure: An Iranian security official warned that, if the United States again targets civilian infrastructure, the airports of Dubai and Abu Dhabi and the ports of Fujairah and Jebel Ali should be evacuated because of possible Iranian retaliation.
Euronews reported that Tehran has asked its allies to prepare for a wider confrontation.
Mohsen Rezaei, military adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, said that continued American attacks over the next two or three days would cause Iran to move beyond deterrence and retaliation into a phase of “offense and complete destruction.”
He said U.S. bases and personnel beyond national borders would be pursued directly and declared that Washington’s strategy of combining warfare with negotiations had reached a dead end.
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