Housing units for American soldiers targeted by Iran
An Iranian ballistic missile that killed two US service members at a Jordanian air base last week hit prefabricated housing units where troops were sleeping, according to US officials, as three separate attacks on the base within 24 hours revealed challenges in protecting US forces in the region.Officials told the Wall Street Journal that the attack on Muwafaq Salti Air Base was one of three missile strikes on the base last week, killing two soldiers from the army’s air and missile defense units. The remains of a third soldier were found and identified today.
The Pentagon identified the two air gunners killed as 1st Lt. Tyler J. Feehan of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pfc. Isabella Gonzalez from Carrollton, Texas.
The third service member recognized today is 30-year-old Sgt. Michael Emanuel Swinton of Fayetteville, North Carolina.
The missiles slipped through the air defenses
The ability of the three missiles to penetrate US air defenses highlights the challenges of protecting the estimated 50,000 US troops stationed in the region against Iran’s arsenal of ballistic missiles and drones.During the first missile attack, debris struck the base’s gymnasium. Sirens sounded in time for the troops to seek shelter in bunkers, although some were injured en route.
Hours later, a second strike hit an empty hangar. The third missile hit the residential units where the soldiers were sleeping.
American losses sparked controversy in the United States. While Iran has made repeated efforts with missiles and drones to strike the crowded base, U.S. officials have not released any evidence showing that Iran specifically targeted service members’ accommodation, known as “container housing units.”
Trump vows revenge
US President Donald Trump threatened to retaliate for the strikes on social media. “Every time Iran kills an American soldier, it will pay for that killing many times over!” Trump wrote. Shortly after, the US military launched a new round of strikes aimed at further weakening Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.While nearly 100 service members have been deemed to have had some degree of infection since July 7, 96 percent have returned to duty, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a social media post.
“The vast majority of injuries that occurred were minor concussions,” he said. Seventeen service members have been killed due to hostilities or accidents since the war began, while 18 are missing.Secretary of State Marco Rubio said when asked by reporters about the attack on Jordan, “A missile came through. We shot down almost all of the missiles. One leaked through us, and it hit the wrong place, tragically, which is heartbreaking.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader warns of “unforgettable lessons”
Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared in public since the war began, warned in a statement of “unforgettable lessons” if the United States continued to strike his country.Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the United States remains open to negotiations with Iran, but it must fulfill its obligations. “We are always open to diplomacy. It has to be real,” he said.The newspaper previously reported that Iran also struck King Faisal Air Base last week, where US forces are stationed, and attacked a separate airport where several US Army Black Hawk helicopters were damaged.
