Trump ties new Iran strikes to US troop deaths in region

Al Jazeera reported that U.S. deaths since the war began have reached 17, with more than 420 service members wounded.

July 20, 2026 at 9:07 AM EDT 1 min read

U.S. President Donald Trump said the latest strikes on Iran were conducted to honor American service members killed in Jordan and Iraq, Al Jazeera reported Sunday. The report said the strikes marked the ninth straight night of attacks on Iran as U.S. military casualties continued to rise.

Al Jazeera reported that the newest casualty figures brought the number of U.S. service members killed since the war began to 17. More than 420 others have been wounded, according to the network.

Trump linked the action directly to the deaths of U.S. personnel in Jordan and Iraq, according to Al Jazeera. The report did not provide further details on the specific targets hit in Iran or the timing of the latest strikes.

The comments came as the campaign against Iran entered another night, according to Al Jazeera. The network said the strikes had continued for nine consecutive nights.

Al Jazeera published the report on July 20, 2026.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.