Two United States service members were killed and one remains unaccounted for following Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks in Jordan on Friday, according to military officials. The U.S. Central Command (Centcom) confirmed the fatalities and missing service member on Saturday, stating that four other service members were medically evacuated to Jordan hospitals but have since been discharged.

This incident marks a significant escalation in hostilities between the U.S. and Iran, which have intensified over the past week. The U.S. had recently reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports, prompting retaliatory actions from Tehran, including strikes on U.S. allies like Jordan and declarations regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

Centcom reported that two U.S. service members in Jordan were killed in action while defending against the Iranian assaults. In a statement, the command also noted that one service member is currently missing. The identities of those killed will be withheld for 24 hours after next of kin have been notified, out of respect for the families.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded to the news on X, formerly Twitter, writing, "Godspeed, heroes. Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve." This statement underscores the U.S. commitment to its military personnel and its stance against the Iranian aggression.

Iranian state media, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), claimed that at least two U.S. fighter aircraft were destroyed early Saturday on Al-Azraq base in Jordan. Centcom declined to comment on this specific report when contacted by the BBC.

The conflict between the U.S. and Iran has seen a rising U.S. death toll. The current incident brings the total to 16, following the declaration of death for an American Navy pilot who had gone missing earlier in the month. This is the second increase in the U.S. death toll in the conflict this week.

Iranian state media has reported significant casualties from U.S. strikes over the past three weeks, citing the country's health ministry as stating at least 50 people have been killed and more than 500 injured. Thousands more have reportedly died across the Middle East since the conflict began on February 28.

A preliminary deal to end the war, struck in June, has since unraveled. Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, stated late Saturday that America's repeated breaches of the agreement demonstrated that the U.S. president's signature is "utterly worthless and devoid of credibility." Khamenei has not appeared in public since his father was killed at the war's outset.