US Service Member Killed in Northern Iraq as Strikes on Iran Reach Ninth Night
A US service member was killed in northern Iraq on Saturday during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian attack drone, one day after an Iranian strike on a base in Jordan killed two other US soldiers, as Iraq strikes continued amid the broader exchanges. [2] [5]
US Service Member Killed in Iraq Drone Incident
The US military confirmed that a service member died after an Iranian attack in northern Iraq on Saturday. [2] Centcom stated the individual was killed during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian attack drone, which also wounded a second service member. [2] [5] This incident occurred a day after an attack on a base in Jordan killed two US soldiers and left another missing. [2] [3] In its update, Centcom said it had found unidentified remains after a search of the location of Friday's attack in Jordan, with an examination process to verify the remains ongoing. [2] [5] The death came as the US and Iran exchanged strikes for an eighth day of escalating attacks. [2]
Ninth Night of US Strikes on Iran
Centcom reported its ninth consecutive night of strikes on Iran. [1] [3] In the early hours of Monday morning, the US military claimed its attacks hit Iranian military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and communications networks. [1] The fresh onslaught aims to further diminish Iran’s ability to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz. [1] [3] The US said its latest attacks had been designed to degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the strait and to swiftly punish Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces it said were responsible for the attack in Jordan. [2] Explosions were heard across Iran as Centcom launched a new wave of strikes for the ninth consecutive night. [3]
US service member killed during controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from Iranian drone in northern Iraq. — Source: bbc
Iranian Retaliatory Actions and Warnings
Iran responded with a surprise attack in Syria and targeted US aircraft at Jordan's Aqaba airport. [3] Iranian media reported that an under-construction nuclear power plant in the south-western city of Darkhoveyn had been struck overnight, as well as Qeshm Island. [2] The IRGC said two vessels had ignored Iranian warnings not to transit the Strait of Hormuz and were consequently involved in an accident. [2] It warned that all vessels influenced by the US and which used unsafe routes would certainly face accidents. [2] Iran said it had responded with a surprise attack in Syria and targeted US aircraft at Jordan's Aqaba airport. [3] The IRGC added that the strait will not be safe for the transit of petrochemical products, nor even a single drop of oil and gas, as long as the US strikes continue and that it will respond with a punitive operation. [3]
Casualties and Regional Impact
The US death toll in the conflict has now reached 17, after an American Navy pilot who went missing earlier this month was declared dead. [2] In Iran, at least 50 people have been killed and more than 500 injured in US strikes over the past three weeks, the country's health ministry has said. [2] Verified footage from inside the Jordanian facility showed at least two impacts and an explosion. [2] In Kuwait, local officials said an electricity and water plant struck on Saturday had been hit again, resulting in a fire. [2] Iran's retaliation also continues against Bahrain overnight. [4]
US service member killed handling unexploded ordnance from Iranian drone in northern Iraq. — Source: myjoyonline
Collapse of June Ceasefire Agreement
Washington and Tehran struck a preliminary deal to end the war which began on 28 February in June, but the agreement unravelled within weeks, with President Donald Trump declaring the agreement over on 8 July. [2] Late on Saturday, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in a written statement that America's repeated breaches of the agreement had laid bare a fundamental truth: the signature of the US president is utterly worthless and devoid of credibility. [2] Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said that the country's leadership is counting down the minutes to welcome US forces in any ground invasion. [1] He added that the text of the Pakistan-brokered interim deal signed with the US in June is completely clear, and that there is no excuse for Washington to violate the treaty. [1] US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the US always remains open to a diplomatic solution. [3]
International Reactions
The UN's nuclear watchdog called for restraint, while noting that the site was in the very early stages and contained no nuclear material during its last visit. [2] Three Iranian missiles were later shot down by Jordan's military and a fourth fell in a remote area, Jordan's state news agency reported. [2] Jordan summoned Iran's charges d'affaires in Amman to demand an immediate end to what the foreign ministry called unjustified and blatant Iranian attacks, insisting that its security was a red line that cannot be crossed. [2] Israel's military said that several interceptors were launched toward missile debris in order to prevent debris impact within Israeli territory after projectiles were launched towards Jordan. [2] It said interceptor fragments were subsequently identified near the southern city of Eilat, near the countries' shared border, with no damage or injuries reported. [2] The Gulf Cooperation Council had accused Tehran of targeting civilian infrastructure after the first strike, calling it a violation of international law. [2]
What to watch next: Centcom disputes claims of two oil tankers exploding in the strait while the IRGC promises further punitive operations if US strikes continue.
