AP: US military death toll rises to 17 in conflict with Iran

The number of US service members killed during the armed conflict with Iran has risen to 17, the Associated Press (AP) reports.

The outlet noted that the deaths highlight the risks faced by US forces across the Middle East, where American personnel remain exposed to threats from drones, missiles and aircraft despite not being directly deployed on the battlefield.

According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), one of the fatalities occurred in Iraq on July 18, when an American service member was killed while carrying out a “controlled detonation” of munitions from a downed Iranian drone.

The command added that on July 17, two US military personnel were killed in Jordan while repelling an Iranian attack. The same day, another US service member was reported missing. 

On July 19, CENTCOM said human remains had been discovered in the area of the latest Iranian strike. AP noted that the official death toll could rise to 18.

The total number of US military personnel wounded during hostilities with Iran has exceeded 400.

By Jeyhun Aghazada