U.S. launches more strikes on Iran after deaths of service members

Liz Landers:

Ahead of a new day in Iran, a familiar story played out in the darkness of night, as the U.S. announced a new round of strikes just like these, impact after impact meant to further degrade the country's capabilities to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz and after a violent weekend involving U.S. allies.

Missiles streaked across the sky in Jordan this weekend.

Man:

Brace for impact.

Liz Landers:

And the warning to brace for impact came seconds after fiery explosions were caught on camera, an American military base, the target of those Iranian missiles in an attack that killed two U.S. soldiers; 25-year-old first Lieutenant Tyler James Feehan and 19-year-old Private Isabella Gonzales were killed during the Friday attack, the Pentagon confirmed.

An unidentified third service member at the same location remains listed as missing in action. On his way back to the White House from the World Cup final, President Trump vowed to memorialize those killed in action, saying U.S. strikes against Iran were -- quote -- "in honor of the fallen."

President Donald Trump:

Well, we feel very badly, but those great people, those great patriots are out there fighting that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. They have got very little left. They have got some missiles. They have got some drones. They have got some manufacturing ability, not much.

Liz Landers:

Trump went on to say he'd avenge the deaths, writing in a social media post today -- quote -- "Every time Iran kills an American soldier, they will pay for that killing many times over."

While the president insists Iran has little left, another unidentified American service member was killed in a separate incident on Saturday in Northern Iraq during the controlled detonation of an Iranian drone. A second soldier was injured.

Since the war with Iran that Trump started jointly with Israel in late February, 17 American service members have been killed. Monday's strikes marked the 10th straight day of airstrikes against Iran since the memorandum of understanding struck between the U.S. and Iran fell apart.

While both sides maintain that diplomacy remains possible, Iranian officials insist the country's leaders will not bow to bullying.

Esmaeil Baghaei, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman (through interpreter):

When the United States speaks of diplomacy, what it means is coercion, intimidation, threats, and sanctions. As long as it remains in that framework and seeks to impose its demands on the Iranian nation, our response will in turn be to defend Iran's dignity and national sovereignty.

Liz Landers:

As Iran continues to bombard Gulf nations Kuwait and Bahrain with missiles and drones, the conflict is now bringing in other Iran-aligned groups.

In Yemen, the Houthi rebels are escalating their involvement, forcing neighbor Saudi Arabia to respond with its own ground strikes this month. In retaliation, the Houthis announced today they would close another global shipping lane and choke point, the Bab al-Mandab.

The narrow strait that separates Yemen and Djibouti is the gateway to the Red Sea, already an alternate route for Saudi oil exports, as the Strait of Hormuz has become increasingly constricted during the conflict. Secretary of State Marco Rubio this weekend once again called on U.S. allies to do more to help the war effort and keep the crucial waterways open.

Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State: The Straits of Hormuz are an international waterway, and they continue to launch against ships in that international waterway. Other countries should join us in this effort, but the United States is involved not just in protecting those ships, but in targeting the places that they use to launch these missiles and drones.

Liz Landers:

Additional closures to Mideast waterways may increase prices for consumers, who are now watching gas prices climb back to $4 a gallon.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Liz Landers.