Two US soldiers killed by Iranian strikes in Jordan identified; Iowa unit suffered earlier losses

By John Damon | Just The News Iowa

The Pentagon on Monday identified two American soldiers killed in Jordan by Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks, marking the first U.S. combat deaths from direct Iranian fire since the conflict escalated. The losses hit close to home for Iowans, as a separate attack earlier in the war killed six soldiers from a supply unit based in the state.

The Defense Department said 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, died in the Jordan attack. Both were deployed to support the U.S. mission against the Islamic State group.

The military reports 17 U.S. service members have now been killed in the war with Iran.

How did the soldiers die?

Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones that struck a U.S. base in Jordan. The attack underscores the reality that American forces stationed across the Middle East remain vulnerable to long-range Iranian weapons, even when not on Iranian soil.

Iowa connection: Six soldiers from state-based unit killed early in conflict

The first U.S. military fatalities of the war occurred shortly after hostilities began on Feb. 28. An Iranian drone strike at a civilian port in Kuwait killed six American soldiers from a supply and logistics unit based in Iowa. The soldiers were working inside a shipping container-style building that lacked defenses.

A seventh soldier died more than a week after being wounded during a March 1 Iranian attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.

Later in March, six more service members died when a KC-135 refueling aircraft supporting operations against Iran crashed in Iraq. U.S. Central Command said the aircraft was in friendly airspace when an unspecified incident involving another aircraft occurred.

On Monday, the Navy confirmed a pilot died in a helicopter crash in the Arabian Sea on July 1. The Navy said there was no indication the emergency was caused by hostile action. Three other sailors were rescued.

What is President Trump saying about the war?

President Donald Trump has stated the war is necessary to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The Republican president now faces growing political pressure to end the conflict and avoid a prolonged Middle East engagement, something he campaigned against.

Iranian authorities claim U.S. strikes in the past three weeks have killed at least 50 people and wounded more than 500 others. Both sides have targeted civilian infrastructure relied on by millions.

What does this mean for Iowa?

The deaths of Iowa-based soldiers early in the war remind residents that the conflict has direct consequences for the state's military families and communities. With U.S. forces spread across the Middle East, Iowans in uniform continue to face serious risks from Iranian drones and missiles, even when stationed far from the front lines.

FAQ

How many U.S. soldiers have been killed in the war with Iran?

Seventeen American service members have died since the conflict began, according to the U.S. military.

Why were the soldiers in Jordan?

The two soldiers killed Monday were deployed to support the U.S. mission against the Islamic State group.

What happened to the Iowa-based unit?

Six soldiers from a supply and logistics unit based in Iowa were killed in an Iranian drone strike at a Kuwait port early in the war. A seventh soldier later died from wounds suffered in a separate attack.