Two US troops killed, one missing in Iranian attack on Jordan base

Jul 18, 2026

Two U.S. troops were killed and one is missing after an Iranian missile and drone attack on a base in Jordan, bringing the U.S. death toll to 16 in the escalating conflict. The attack follows the collapse of a ceasefire deal, which Iran has now fully suspended, with its Supreme Leader calling President Trump's signature "worthless." Both sides are striking infrastructure, including desalination plants in Kuwait and Iran.

US troop casualties

▪Two U.S. service members were killed and one is missing following an Iranian ballistic missile and drone attack in Jordan on July 17, 2026.
▪The attack brings the total U.S. death toll in the conflict with Iran to 16 service members killed, with over 430 wounded since the war began.
▪Four U.S. service members were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals after the attack and have since been discharged.

Iranian supreme leader warnings

▪Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen in public since an attack killed his father at the start of the war in February 2026.
▪Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned the U.S. of "unforgettable lessons" if it continues attacking the Islamic Republic.
▪In a statement, Mojtaba Khamenei called U.S. President Donald Trump’s signature “utterly worthless and devoid of credibility” due to America's "repeated breaches" of an agreement.

Interim deal suspension

▪Iran is suspending its commitments to an interim deal signed about a month ago that was aimed at permanently ending the fighting.
▪Iran's deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, stated that because the U.S. violated its commitments, Iran is "no longer implementing them."

Strait of Hormuz conflict

▪The U.S. has reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and has conducted seven consecutive nights of strikes on Iran.
▪The conflict has increasingly focused on control of the Strait of Hormuz, which previously carried a fifth of the world's crude oil.

Desalination plant attacks

▪The attack on the Kuwaiti plant was the second in two days; the nation depends on desalination for 90% of its drinking water.
▪U.S. airstrikes destroyed Iran's Bonji desalination plant, cutting off water to about 10,000 people, and damaged another plant on Qeshm Island.
▪Iranian strikes on July 18, 2026, hit a water desalination plant and an oil facility in Kuwait, causing a fire and injuries.

Regional infrastructure strikes

▪The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) accused Iran of war crimes for its strikes on regional infrastructure and civilian facilities.
▪Iranian authorities reported that at least 50 people have been killed and more than 500 wounded in U.S. strikes in the last three weeks.
▪Jordan's military said it intercepted 10 Iranian missiles fired into its airspace overnight.