Pentagon identifies two U.S. soldiers killed by Iranian attack on Jordan base
by Ben Wolfgang · The Washington TimesThe Pentagon on Monday identified the two U.S. soldiers killed in an Iranian attack last week on a base in Jordan.
In a statement, the Defense Department said that 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, were killed in the July 17 attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base.
U.S. officials said an Iranian ballistic missile struck the base.
Another service member was reported missing after the strike. U.S. Central Command said Sunday that “unidentified remains” were found at the site. An examination process to verify the remains is ongoing, military officials said, but the discovery could mean that the death toll from the Iranian strike will rise to three.
Separately, CENTCOM said that another service member was killed in Iraq on Saturday during the “controlled detonation” of a downed Iranian drone.
The weekend casualties were the first U.S. combat deaths in the Iran war since March.
SEE ALSO: Iran’s chief negotiator chastises U.S. for moving new military equipment to the region
At least 17 Americans have been killed in combat since the war began on Feb. 28, according to Pentagon data. More than 400 have been wounded.
The U.S. launched massive airstrikes against Iranian targets in the hours after the American deaths.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters late Sunday that the U.S. successfully intercepted most of the Iranian missiles fired at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, but one “leaked through.”
“And it’s heartbreaking,” Mr. Rubio said. “And our hearts go out to the families of the heroes that paid the ultimate price.”
“Our military all over the world, especially in that part of the world but all over the world every single day, do very dangerous things,” he said. “We’ve had people who have lost their lives in training. Nothing the military does is safe. It’s all inherently dangerous. And we’re just grateful to have such heroic Americans in uniform in service of our country.”
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Ben Wolfgang
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