By Middle East Correspondent
London, (The Muslim News): The conflict in the Middle East escalated sharply on Saturday after two American service members were killed in Jordan during an Iranian missile and drone attack, in response to continuous US bombing of Iranian cities including civilian infrastructure. Israel bombed Lebanon and killed eight Palestinians in Gaza despite ceasefire agreements.
The Pentagon said the two troops were killed while defending American and partner forces from an Iranian ballistic missile and drone barrage in Jordan on Friday. A third service member remains missing, while four others who were medically evacuated have since been discharged after treatment.
US Central Command said the identities of the fallen would not be released until their families had been notified.
President Donald Trump described the deaths as “a very sad thing,” while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth paid tribute to the troops, writing: “Godspeed, heroes. Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve.”
The attack came weeks after a Pakistan-brokered memorandum of understanding signed in June aimed at halting hostilities between Washington and Tehran.
Following the strike, Iran’s leadership declared the agreement no longer viable.
Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei accused the United States of repeatedly violating the memorandum, saying President Trump’s signature was “utterly worthless and devoid of credibility.”
President Masoud Pezeshkian urged national unity, while Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi announced Iran was suspending its commitments under the agreement, arguing Washington had already broken its obligations.
As diplomatic efforts unravelled, both sides continued to exchange accusations over attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Iranian officials said US strikes damaged telecommunications facilities in Hormozgan province, knocking 116 communications towers offline and disrupting mobile phone, landline and internet services across parts of Bandar Abbas and Hajiabad.
Tehran also alleged that a US strike hit a desalination plant in the province, disrupting water supplies to around 10,000 people in approximately 20 villages. The claim has not been independently verified.
Iran’s Health Ministry said US strikes since June 27 had killed 50 people and wounded more than 500, including women and children.
The violence also continued to spread beyond Iran.
Israel bombs several cities in southern Lebanon
In southern Lebanon, Israeli warplanes, artillery and drones struck multiple locations, including Haris, Mansouri, Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Kfar Tibnit despite ceasefire agreement.
Lebanese state media reported injuries following shelling in Haris, while the Israeli military said it had targeted a Hezbollah drone-operating cell after detecting a drone launched toward Israeli forces.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Israeli military operations had killed 4,328 people and wounded more than 12,000 since March.
Israeli forces killed 8 Palestinians in Gaza
Further south, Israeli military operations continued in Gaza, where medical officials said at least eight Palestinians were killed in strikes on Gaza City.
Three people were killed by artillery fire near the Dawla roundabout in the Zeitoun neighbourhood, while an airstrike on an apartment in the Nasr district killed five more people, including a young girl.
Israeli forces also expanded the military-controlled area east of Deir al-Balah after issuing evacuation warnings to residents.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed during alleged ceasefire violations since October 2025, while the overall death toll from the war since October 2023 has exceeded 73,000.
[Photo: A bridge connecting Bandar Abbas and Roudan regions, rendered unusable after a US strike, is seen in Iran’s Hormozgan province, where Iranian authorities said the United States carried out attacks on 95 locations across 12 cities over the past 10 days, on July 19, 2026. Photojournalist: Amir Hossein Khorgooei/AA]
