The US has launched a fresh wave of airstrikes on Iran in retaliation for the deaths of two service members who were killed in a missile attack on an American air base in Jordan.

Central Command vowed to ‘punish’ Tehran with a new barrage of strikes, which began at 6pm EST on Saturday.

‘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,’ CENTCOM said in a statement.

The strikes hit the base overnight on Friday. In addition to the two fatalities, one service member is missing in action, and four others were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals in the attack. The troops have since been discharged, CENTCOM added.

‘Out of respect for the families, CENTCOM will withhold additional information, including the identities of the fallen warriors, until 24 hours after the next of kin have been notified,’ the agency said.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also honored the troops on X, writing: ‘Godspeed, heroes. Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve.’

The deaths were the 15th and 16th among US servicemembers since the war with Iran began in February, with more than 430 others wounded.

After news broke of the deaths, Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, called the US’s actions in the region ‘criminal,’ referring to the country as the ‘Great Satan.’

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Tagged: Middle East BACK TO HOMEPAGE