US strikes Iran again after death of two soldiers in Jordan

Washington – 19 July 2026: The United States continued its attacks against targets in Iran overnight into Sunday. According to US Central Command, it was the eighth consecutive night of US military operations. Washington justified the new wave of strikes with an Iranian missile and drone attack in Jordan on 17 July that killed two members of the US armed forces.

According to the initially released information, another US service member was missing. US Central Command said the latest operations were intended to strike Iranian military capabilities that could be used for attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz as well as on American soldiers. The listed target categories include coastal surveillance, air defence, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage facilities.

The military situation is therefore escalating again, although the United States and Iran signed a preliminary agreement in Versailles on 17 June to end hostilities. The agreement was intended to open a path towards further talks. However, the recent clashes and mutual accusations show that the arrangement has lost its de-escalatory effect.

According to reports by the Associated Press news agency, the latest American strikes targeted units of the Revolutionary Guards. Iran, for its part, fired missiles towards Jordan. This increases the risk that other countries in the region will be drawn directly into the confrontation. The situation remains particularly tense in the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for international energy trade.

The attacks, which have continued for days, have also struck civilian infrastructure in Iran. AP reported attacks on bridges, seawater desalination plants, and power supply facilities. Independent information on damage and possible casualties was initially not fully available. Tehran had repeatedly stated that it was responding to American military actions and the blockade of Iranian ports.

For the US government, the deaths of the two soldiers in Jordan represent a new security-policy turning point. The strikes are taking place at a time when the military confrontation between Washington and Tehran has long extended beyond direct operations on Iranian territory. US partners in the Gulf and commercial shipping are also affected by the consequences of the escalation.

A short-term return to substantive negotiations is currently not in sight. France had pressed in June for technical and political talks to continue after the Versailles agreement was concluded. The renewed series of strikes now underscores how fragile this diplomatic approach has remained.