Tyler James Feehan and Isabella Gonzales were identified as the first U.S. troops killed by direct Iranian fire during the current war.
The Defense Department identified Tyler James Feehan and Isabella Gonzales as the two U.S. Army soldiers killed in Jordan during Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. Feehan, a first lieutenant from Hawaii, was killed on Saturday, while Gonzales, a 19-year-old private from Texas, died on Friday. The deaths mark the first time U.S. troops have been killed by direct Iranian fire since the war began. Feehan will receive a posthumous promotion to captain and several military honors, including the Bronze Star. Gonzales, who joined the military shortly after high school, was serving with the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. The administration announced that the war is necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. While the conflict has escalated following a breakdown in peace talks, President Trump faces pressure to conclude the war and avoid a prolonged Middle East engagement. Meanwhile, Iranian authorities reported that U.S. strikes over the last three weeks have killed at least 50 people.