A US soldier was killed and another injured on July 18 in northern Iraq when a downed Iranian drone exploded during an attempt to defuse it, according to a statement from US Central Command (CENTCOM) cited by Al Jazeera. The soldier’s identity has not been released. The incident occurred amid escalating military tensions between Iran and the United States following months of cross-border strikes and drone attacks.

Since the conflict between Iran and the US-Israel joint forces began on February 28, a total of 17 American soldiers have been killed. Just days earlier, two US soldiers died and one went missing in an Iranian attack in Jordan. CENTCOM reported that unidentified remains were recovered from the Jordan site and are being examined for identification.

The renewed hostilities follow the collapse of a temporary ceasefire and disputes over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route. The ongoing conflict has caused thousands of deaths and disrupted global energy supplies, heightening inflation risks worldwide.