The U.S. military said it carried out retaliatory strikes Sunday against Iranian forces after attacks in Jordan killed two American service members and left another missing.
The escalation is also fueling criticism from former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) blasting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Greene’s criticism of Hegseth’s ‘sacrifice’ remark after he posted about the fallen troops.
U.S. Central Command said in a post on X that it had completed an eighth consecutive night of operations, saying the latest wave hit Iranian coastal surveillance and air defense sites, maritime assets, and locations used to store missiles and drones.
The command also said U.S. forces struck Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps units it linked to the Jordan attack on July 17.
The latest escalation also renewed concerns about whether the conflict could disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and push energy prices higher.
Greene took aim at Hegseth after he wrote, “Godspeed, heroes. Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve.” Greene responded with, “Sacrifice?? What the f*** are you talking about??” and argued the troops “did not willingly sacrifice themselves,” while claiming they died in a war fought “on behalf of a FOREIGN COUNTRY, Israel.”
Escalating Conflict: A New Energy Crisis?
In another post, Greene said she was “praying for the families and friends of those two fallen soldiers and for the third missing soldier,” while urging President Donald Trump to bring forces home and end what she called a “senseless America LAST war.” She also echoed her earlier claim that “the foreign influence we are experiencing comes from Israel and their donors.”
Greene, in an earlier Saturday post, argued “we are in no danger from Iran, they can’t even hit us with a missile,” and said the conflict had become about the Strait of Hormuz and oil control.
Separately, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote he was “heartbroken” by the deaths and said he was “praying for their families, and the families of all those missing and injured.”
On the ground in the region, the U.S. Embassy in Amman issued a security alert Sunday saying Jordanian authorities evacuated the airport and seaport in Aqaba because of what it described as a specific and credible threat, according to CNBC. Jordan later denied ordering any evacuation and said operations were normal.
Iran also struck beyond Jordan, with Kuwait saying Sunday it activated air defenses against Iranian missiles and drones. Kuwait has been hit repeatedly in recent days, including a strike that damaged a key desalination facility.
Are Oil Prices Poised For A Surge?
The White House framed the new air campaign as both punishment and a bid to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping, with the operation beginning late Saturday on Trump’s orders, according to the U.S. military’s account.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday during an interview with ABC News that he believed flows could continue through Hormuz, citing roughly seven million barrels a day moving through the waterway and nearly the same volume through bypass pipelines.
Fuel costs in the U.S. have already started moving higher, with AAA putting the national average above $3.99 a gallon Sunday, up from more than $3.87 a week earlier.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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