The United States Department of Defense has identified two American soldiers who were killed following Iranian military strikes on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.
The fallen service members were named as First Lieutenant Tyler James Feehan, 25, and Private Isabella Gonzales, 19.
According to the Pentagon, Gonzales, a native of Carrollton, Texas, died on Friday, while Feehan, who enlisted from Ewa Beach, Hawaii, succumbed to his injuries on Saturday. The military said both soldiers were killed during what it described as an enemy attack.
In a statement released through the Department of Defense, Feehan’s parents paid tribute to their son, describing him as someone who lived a remarkable life and had planned to get married after completing his deployment.
“We want America and the world to know Tyler lived life to the fullest and accomplished more in his 25 years than most complete in a lifetime,” they said.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Pentagon also disclosed that four additional U.S. service members sustained injuries during the strike. They were evacuated to a local hospital for treatment and have since been discharged.
Military authorities said investigations into the attack are ongoing. The deaths are the first U.S. military fatalities directly attributed to Iranian attacks since March.
Defense officials further revealed that another American service member died during a controlled detonation involving a downed Iranian drone. They also confirmed that unidentified human remains were recovered at the air base following earlier reports of a missing service member.
A dignified transfer ceremony for four deceased service members has been scheduled for Wednesday.
The latest fatalities bring the reported U.S. military death toll in the ongoing conflict to 17. Earlier casualties include six Army Reserve personnel killed in Kuwait on March 1, an Army sergeant wounded in Saudi Arabia, and six crew members who died in a non-combat refuelling aircraft crash in western Iraq.
The attack comes amid renewed escalation in regional hostilities, with U.S. forces carrying out strikes on Iranian transport infrastructure while Iran has expanded its military operations across the region.
Despite the heightened tensions, diplomatic efforts remain underway, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Iranian officials indicating a willingness to continue discussions.
Reacting to the deaths, President Donald Trump described the loss of the American soldiers as “a very sad thing.”
“We hate to see it happen. It’s in service to our country,” the President said.