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Jordan Strike and Retaliation
U.S. Central Command said two American service members were killed in Iran's attacks on Jordan while defending U.S. and allied forces against Iran's ballistic missile and drone attacks, and it added that one American service member remains missing.
CENTCOM said the deaths occurred on July 17 (the 26th of Tir) in Jordan, and it reported that four American service members were evacuated to hospitals in Jordan for treatment but have since been discharged.
The U.S. began launching retaliatory airstrikes against Iran at 6 p.m. ET Saturday at President Donald Trump’s direction, with CENTCOM saying the strikes were intended to “swiftly punish” Iranian forces for the attack.
In a written message attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran accused the United States of violating understandings with the Islamic Republic and said this action “once again demonstrates the worthlessness and invalidity of the U.S. president's signature.”
Khamenei, GCC, and Claims
DW reported that Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi condemned Iran's recent attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan and said attacks on civilian infrastructure and facilities in these countries constitute war crimes.
In the same DW roundup, Al-Budaiwi said in a statement that Iran's actions are very dangerous and a serious violation of international law and the UN Charter, and he stressed that deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure and facilities require accountability and international prosecution.
France 24 said Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed to teach the United States unforgettable lessons, arguing that Washington’s attacks show the signing by U.S. President Donald Trump of a memorandum of understanding to end the war in the Middle East was worthless.
France 24 also quoted Khamenei’s message that “The repeated violations of promises by the Grand Satan regarding the memorandum of understanding” show the signature of the American president has no value and is devoid of credibility.
Strait of Hormuz Stakes
The conflict’s immediate stakes centered on the Strait of Hormuz, with CENTCOM saying the U.S. strikes were designed to weaken Iran’s “ability to threaten commercial shipping” in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Two American service members were killed, and a third is missing after Iranian ballistic missiles and drones struck an air base in Jordan used by U”
NPR reported that Iran has closed the strait and that the U.S. military said it has reinstated a naval blockade of Iran, as the escalation led to broader concerns that there could be an all-out war.
France 24 said the European Union and Gulf states urged Iran to permanently open the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran’s leadership framed the dispute through the memorandum of understanding and threats of “unforgettable lessons.”
DW also reported that Iran suspended its commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum, with Kazem Ghareebabadi saying the United States violated and suspended its commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum and that Iran likewise suspended its commitments under this MoU.
