US faces difficulty protecting 50,000 troops from Iranian attacks, media reports

Moscow (ANTARA) - The United States is judged to face difficulties in protecting around 50,000 of its military personnel in the Middle East from attacks by Iran, which still possesses large quantities of ballistic missiles and drones.

A report by The Wall Street Journal on Monday said three Iranian missiles successfully penetrated US air defence systems in an attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan last week.

The missiles’ success in penetrating US air defences demonstrates the challenge Washington faces in protecting its forces in the region, according to the report.

Citing US officials, the newspaper reported that the Iranian strike hit prefabricated barracks at the base housing US military personnel.

The report also said the bodies of other victims were found at the base, but their identities could not yet be confirmed.

Earlier, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said on 18 July that two US soldiers had been killed and one was missing following the Iranian attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base.

According to US officials, the attack was one of three missile strikes carried out within a 24-hour period.

Meanwhile, CBS News, citing the Pentagon, reported that nearly 100 US military personnel had been wounded in a series of Iranian attacks on American bases in the Middle East.

The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on 18 June to end the conflict that had erupted on 28 February.

However, since 8 July, the US military has again launched several waves of attacks against Iran, claiming to be responding to Tehran’s actions against commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran subsequently retaliated by attacking a number of US military bases in the Middle East and accused Washington of violating the memorandum of understanding on the cessation of hostilities.

On 9 July, US President Donald Trump declared that the ceasefire between the two countries was no longer in effect.