The US military reported another death of a service member on Sunday as it launched fresh airstrikes against Iran in retaliation for the killing of American troops. Iran also fired missiles toward Jordan, raising fears of the conflict spreading to Israel.
Service Member Killed in Controlled Detonation
The US military said the service member was killed in Iraq on Saturday during a "controlled detonation" of a downed Iranian drone. This comes after a previous attack in Jordan on Friday that killed three US troops and left one missing. The military confirmed on Sunday that "unidentified remains" were found and are being examined. Since the war began, 17 US service members have been killed.
Escalation of Hostilities
The US and Iran have edged closer to all-out war as a previous interim deal has collapsed and shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has largely stalled. Both sides have targeted civilian infrastructure. The US has struck bridges, water desalination plants, and electrical facilities in Iran, while Tehran has hit US-allied countries across the Middle East.
Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain activated air defenses against incoming Iranian drones and missiles. Israel warned that missiles launched toward Jordan could spill over into its territory for the first time in weeks.
US Strikes Target Iranian Military Assets
The US military's Central Command said it hit "Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime capabilities and missile and drone storage sites." The strikes aimed to degrade Iran's ability to control the Strait of Hormuz and "swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces." Footage released by the US showed strikes by fighter jets and Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Iran's atomic energy agency reported that US strikes hit the construction site of a planned nuclear power plant in the southwest. Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC showed earth clearing but little construction as of July 9. The International Atomic Energy Agency said the site, in "very early stages of construction," contained no nuclear material when last visited.
Casualties and Impact
Iranian authorities said at least 50 people have been killed and 517 wounded in the latest US strikes. Iran has not provided overall information on materiel losses. The conflict's effects on fuel and other goods prices have hit vulnerable areas worldwide.
