JUST IN: U.S. Launches Retaliatory Strikes on Iran After Two American Service Members Killed

The U.S. military has launched another round of strikes against Iran following the deaths of two American soldiers.

Last night, two U.S. service members were killed in an Iranian ballistic missile attack on a base in Jordan.

Tonight, the U.S. is hitting back.

CENTCOM announced:

Today at 6 p.m. ET, U.S. forces began launching new airstrikes against Iran at the Commander in Chief’s direction. The strikes are designed to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard…

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 18, 2026

Today at 6 p.m. ET, U.S. forces began launching new airstrikes against Iran at the Commander in Chief’s direction. The strikes are designed to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night.

Along with these two American heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice, several U.S. service members were seriously injured.

Another soldier is still missing in action.

News Nation shared President Trump’s response to the soldier’s deaths:

President Donald Trump called the deaths of two U.S. service members in Jordan “a very sad thing” after U.S. Central Command announced they were killed while defending against Iranian missile and drone attacks.

In a brief phone call with NewsNation, Trump said the troops died “in service of our country” and reiterated that the war’s central objective is “never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”

Asked about Iran’s announcement that it was no longer abiding by a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, Trump replied: “I couldn’t care less.”

U.S. Central Command said a third service member remains missing, while four others injured in the attack have been treated and released from hospitals in Jordan.

This marks the eighth consecutive night of strikes since the ceasefire with Iran collapsed.

But, this time it’s a bit different…

This round of strikes will serve as punishment against the Iranian regime for the loss of two U.S. troops.

In a post on X, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated:

Godspeed, heroes.

Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve. https://t.co/GIcfNdAol0

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) July 18, 2026

Since the American military started dropping bombs tonight, explosions have been reported in parts of southern Iran, including Bandar Abbas, Sirik, and near Qeshm Island.

The New York Times has the latest updates:

A location near Sirik, in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province, was struck at 1:30 a.m. local time on Sunday, the provincial governor’s office said, according to Iran’s official state news agency, IRNA. Sirik, which is near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz and hosts maritime and military infrastructure, has come under repeated attack this week.

Another site in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province was struck early Sunday. IRNA, Iran’s state news agency, said local sources reported that an area near Hajiabad was hit at about 2:10 a.m. local time and attributed the attack to the United States. U.S. Central Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Hajiabad has come under attack several times in recent days, including a strike on an environmental outpost that Iranian officials said killed three members of a ranger’s family.

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A location near Qeshm Island in southern Iran was targeted in a military attack on Sunday, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported, citing the local governor’s office and attributing the strikes to U.S. forces. Qeshm lies in the Strait of Hormuz close to major shipping routes and is the site of strategic military installations. IRNA also said that explosions were reported in Bandar Abbas, a city in southern Iran that is the country’s main naval hub near the waterway, without specifying their origin. Both Qeshm and Bandar Abbas have previously been targeted by U.S. strikes.

Fox News provided further coverage on the situation in this clip: