- A US service member died in Iraq during a controlled detonation of Iranian drone ordnance
- A second US soldier was injured and is receiving treatment for a minor injury
- US military confirmed 17 American fatalities since the war began on February 28
A member of the US armed forces has died in northern Iraq while carrying out a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance left behind by a downed Iranian drone, US Central Command confirmed on Sunday.
In a statement posted on X, the US military said, "A US service member in northern Iraq was killed in action on July 18 during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone."
A second service member was wounded in the incident and is continuing to receive medical treatment for what officials described as a minor injury.
The soldier's death on Saturday brings the confirmed number of American military fatalities since the war began on 28 February to 17.
Alongside the update, the military said personnel had found unidentified remains at a separate location connected to missing US service members. Officials said the process of verifying those remains is still under way.
The Iraq death follows the killing of two American service members in Jordan on Friday, who died while defending against a barrage of Iranian ballistic missiles and drones.
CENTCOM said it would not release further details, including the identities of those who died, out of respect for their families during the notification process.
US Strikes Iran For Eighth Consecutive Night
Meanwhile, the US carried out its eighth consecutive night of strikes on Iran on Sunday, aiming to punish Tehran following the American deaths in Jordan two days earlier.
CENTCOM said the raids were intended to "swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night."
Iran Hits Back At US Bases
Iran responded within hours. Its army said it had struck two US bases in Kuwait with drones, hitting an ammunition depot at Camp Udairi and Patriot radar systems at Ali Al Salem Air Base.
Bahrain's military said it "confronted, intercepted, and destroyed a number of treacherous Iranian aerial attacks," accusing Tehran of targeting civilians.
In Jordan, sirens sounded as Israeli and Jordanian forces intercepted an Iranian missile heading towards the port city of Aqaba. Kuwait's electricity ministry said one of its power and desalination plants was attacked for a second consecutive day, sparking a fire.
Israel Prepares For Wider Role
An Israeli military official said on Sunday that Israel is preparing to receive more US refuelling aircraft, hinting at an expansion of military operations against Iran.
The official said the US had "decided to adjust its force posture in the region" and would "reinforce the existing fleet of aerial refuelling aircraft stationed in Israel with additional refuelling aircraft." Israel has not joined the latest wave of US attacks, though it has hosted dozens of refuelling aircraft.
A day earlier, on Saturday, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said the US would face an "unforgettable lesson" if the strikes continued.
Khamenei, who has not been seen publicly since the war began, also dismissed a deal bearing US President Donald Trump's signature as "worthless and invalid."
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