Three US soldiers have been killed in recent days after Iran and the US resumed exchanging strikes, escalating tensions in the Middle East. On Saturday, a soldier died in Iraq while conducting a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone, according to US Central Command. A second soldier sustained minor injuries and is expected to recover.
Previous attacks and retaliatory strikes
Just days earlier, two service members were killed in an attack in Jordan, with four others wounded. During a search for another missing service member in Jordan, the military discovered unidentified human remains. In response, the US launched retaliatory strikes targeting Iran’s military bases and drone sites.
The exchange of fire has reignited the war between the two nations, which had briefly paused under a ceasefire agreement. The identities of the deceased soldiers have not been released, as officials await notification of their families.
Diplomatic and military responses
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US is ‘open to a diplomatic solution’ after hostilities resumed late last week. He added, ‘The world has to decide whether or not it’s going to allow an international waterway to be under the control of Iran,’ referring to the Strait of Hormuz.
Last week, the United States launched a new wave of strikes and issued a stern warning to Iran after it began targeting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Multiple cargo ships were attacked by Iran, and former President Trump reimposed a blockade on the strait. Iran has also continued missile and drone strikes against US allies in the Middle East, including Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan.
Trump's warnings and new weapons use
Trump warned that more US strikes would cripple Iran, targeting bridges and power plants unless the country backs down. ‘I don’t like giving deadlines, but they pretty much know, they know the story… they better behave,’ he said. He added: ‘You’d better make a deal, or you’re not going to have anything left.’
Among the weapons in the US arsenal are kamikaze drones, which have been used to target Iranian naval facilities at Bandar Abbas Naval Base. The attacks over the weekend marked the first time the US military used uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) as strike weapons in combat.
