The Iranian ballistic missile attack on a Jordanian air base that killed two U.S. servicemembers struck prefabricated housing units where troops lived and slept, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter.
The attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base was one of three separate missile strikes on the base in 24 hours last week, which killed two soldiers from Army air and missile defense units, according to the officials. The remains of a third person have been found at the location and are being examined.
That three missiles were able to slip through U.S. air defenses points to the challenges in protecting the estimated 50,000 troops stationed in the region against an Iranian military that is still equipped with a substantial number of ballistic missiles and drones.
President Trump on Monday threatened U.S. retaliation for the strikes. Shortly afterward, the U.S. military said it launched a new round of strikes intended to further degrade Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Every time Iran kills an American Soldier they will pay for that killing many times over! This directive has been passed on to Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth , Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Daniel Caine , and every Leader in the Military,” Trump wrote on social media.
“While nearly 100 servicemembers were deemed to have some degree of injury since July 7, 2026,” 96% have returned to duty, said Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell in a social-media post Monday. “The vast majority of injuries experienced were minor concussions,” he added. Seventeen servicemembers have been killed due to hostile actions or accidents since the war began. An 18th servicemember is missing.
Iran has adapted to U.S. defenses, firing missiles that travel at extremely high speeds and can maneuver as they streak toward the earth, The Wall Street Journal has previously reported.
A spokesman for the U.S. Central Command, which oversees American forces in the Middle East, declined to comment on the battle damage caused by the Iranian attacks. Iran has circulated satellite imagery on social-media accounts showing what it says is damage to the base, including what appears to be a housing area.
Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei , who has assumed power in Tehran but hasn’t been seen since the war began, warned in a statement of “unforgettable lessons” if the U.S. continues to strike his country.
The American casualties have stirred debate in the U.S. about the war. While Iran has made repeated efforts with missiles and drones to hit the crowded base, no evidence has been released by U.S. officials that shows Iran specifically targeted the servicemembers’ quarters, known as “containerized housing units” or CHUs, in an effort to cause widespread casualties.
During the first of the three missile attacks on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, debris from the missile strike hit the base’s gym, U.S. officials said. A siren signaling the incoming attack sounded in time for troops to try to shelter in the bunkers. Some were wounded on the way to the bunker, but none were killed, officials said.
Hours later sirens sounded again, sending troops heading toward the bunkers. This time, an Iranian missile hit an empty aircraft hangar, officials said.
The third missile strike hit containerized housing units, where soldiers had been sleeping, the officials said. The sirens sounded for a third time, but not everyone made it to the bunkers.
The Pentagon identified the two air defenders who were killed as First Lt. Tyler J. Feehan of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales of Carrollton, Texas. A third servicemember, who hasn’t been identified, is missing.
It isn’t clear whether the soldiers who died were inside the housing units, or if they got caught outside on their way to shelter.
Iran’s deadly strike was one of a series of attacks Iran has directed in recent days at bases in Jordan that are being used by U.S. personnel. It followed the Trump administration’s push to broaden the array of targets in Iran, including bridges and other infrastructure as diplomatic negotiations to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz hit an impasse.
“A missile got through. We shot down almost all the missiles. One leaked through, hit the wrong place, and tragically, and it’s heartbreaking,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this weekend when asked by reporters about the attack on Jordan.
Rubio suggested the U.S. was still open to negotiations with Iran, but it must abide by any commitments it makes. “We’re always open to diplomacy. It has to be real,” he said.
In addition to the attacks on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, Iran also struck King Faisal Air Base last week, where U.S. forces are also based. Iranian forces also attacked a separate airfield in Jordan, where several U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopters were damaged, the Journal previously reported.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were scheduled to testify before a Senate panel on Tuesday on war costs.
Write to Michael R. Gordon at michael.gordon@wsj.com , Lara Seligman at lara.seligman@wsj.com and Robbie Gramer at robbie.gramer@wsj.com
