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A U.S. service member was killed Saturday in northern Iraq during the controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone, U.S. Central Command announced Sunday.
Another service member suffered what Central Command described as a minor injury and remains under medical care. The death brings the number of U.S. service members killed since the conflict with Iran began on Feb. 28 to 17.
The announcement came one day after Central Command reported that two U.S. service members were killed in an Iranian attack on a U.S. position in Jordan on Friday. One American service member remains missing following that attack.
Central Command said U.S. forces conducted a thorough search of the area and recovered “unidentified remains” on Sunday. Officials said an examination is underway to determine the identity of the remains.
“On July 17, two U.S. service members in Jordan were killed in action as U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. Additionally, one service member is currently missing in action,” U.S. Central Command previously announced.
In response to the attack in Jordan, the U.S. military launched another round of airstrikes against Iranian military targets.
According to Central Command, the strikes targeted coastal surveillance sites, air defense systems, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage facilities.
The United States has expanded its military campaign against Iran in recent days, striking energy infrastructure, port facilities, bridges and other strategic targets as tensions continue to rise.
Iran has responded by launching attacks against Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait, where the United States maintains a significant military presence.
Iranian strikes have targeted oil facilities as well as power and water infrastructure in Kuwait.
The Kuwaiti military said Sunday that its air defense systems were intercepting incoming Iranian missiles and one-way attack drones.
