KATHMANDU: Tensions between Iran and the United States have escalated sharply after two American service members were killed in an Iranian ballistic missile and drone attack in Jordan on Friday, while another remains missing.

According to US military officials, four other American troops injured in the attack were treated at a hospital in Jordan and later discharged, while those with minor injuries have already returned to duty. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the incident but has not released the identities of the deceased or further operational details.

US Retaliates on Trump’s Orders

In response to the attack on its forces, the United States launched another wave of powerful airstrikes across Iran on Saturday night. Acting under the direct orders of President Donald Trump, CENTCOM carried out its eighth consecutive night of military operations targeting multiple locations inside Iran.

According to a CENTCOM statement, the strikes were aimed at degrading Iran’s military capabilities that threaten commercial shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Saturday’s operation specifically targeted elements of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) believed to have been involved in the attack on US personnel in Jordan.

Regional Tensions Intensify

The latest exchange has further heightened instability across the Middle East.

Following the renewed US naval blockade of Iranian ports, Tehran responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes.

Meanwhile, a ceasefire agreement between the two countries has collapsed less than a month after taking effect, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.

A series of retaliatory strikes over the past week has significantly increased the risk of a wider military confrontation in the region