Here's the latest
• Widening conflict: Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis claimed to have struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea Thursday following their Monday announcement of a naval blockade on Saudi ships. Global oil prices rose to over $98 a barrel on the news.
• Ongoing threats: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described President Donald Trump’s Iran policy as “a head for an eye,” after Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi called the country’s defense doctrine “an eye for an eye.” Trump has said the US will destroy a bridge or power plant every time Iran targets a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
• Fresh attacks: Iran fired four missiles toward Jordan on Thursday, three of which were intercepted, the country’s armed forces said. US strikes on Iran killed two people at a border crossing with Iraq, Iranian state media reported.
UK warns against all but essential travel to Kuwait and Bahrain
Britain’s Foreign Office has warned against all but essential travel to Kuwait and Bahrain, citing the “unpredictable” situation in the Middle East, as Tehran and Washington trade daily strikes.
Both Persian Gulf nations have faced repeated Iranian attacks in recent weeks amid the latest spike in regional violence. The new travel advice published Thursday comes shortly after the UK announced it had temporarily withdrawn its staff from Iran.
Another oil snafu: Insurers may ditch ships that pay Iran a toll
Insurance companies can cancel policies for ships that pay tolls to Iran or any other country to transit the Strait of Hormuz, a major trade group announced Thursday, injecting a new layer of uncertainty atop the oil market quagmire that the Iran war has unleashed.
Lloyd’s Market Association, a group representing maritime insurance underwriters, said in a newly drafted clause for shipping policies that paying a toll to Iran directly or via any of its agents is illegal. If ships pay the toll, it can void the ship’s entire insurance policy.
LMA said insurers can apply a blanket policy about tolls so agents don’t need to figure out who is ultimately getting the money in the end. That could include the United States, after President Donald Trump briefly suggested the country could also impose tolls before abandoning that plan.
But LMA’s clause is just guidance, and agents and shipping companies can draft policies as they see fit.
That could nevertheless significantly complicate an already convoluted situation in the Strait of Hormuz: Iran has fired on vessels that attempt to enter or exit the Persian Gulf by hugging the Omani coast.
Iran wants ships to transit the strait close to its coast so it can register them and impose tolls.
But the United States and other countries have imposed sanctions on Iran, so doing business with the regime would violate the law, LMA said.
That leaves shipping companies with few good options — especially as the Houthis have announced a blockade of the Bab al-Mandeb strait, leaving few remaining paths for Middle Eastern oil to get to its customers.
What we know about the two Saudi tankers attacked in the Red Sea
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis claimed early Thursday to have struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, in what appears to be the group’s first enforcement action of its recent threat to blockade Saudi ships.
Here’s what we know about the tankers:
The Houthis, one of Iran’s principal allies in the region, identified the vessels as the Encelia and Layla. Both are Saudi-flagged, according to maritime tracking agency MarineTraffic.
The Layla (identified by its unique International Maritime Organization number 9336098) is listed as a laden crude oil tanker, while the Encelia (IMO 9240172) is identified as a laden oil products tanker, MarineTraffic said.
The vessels were struck in separate attacks approximately 70 nautical miles (around 80 miles) off the Saudi coast, maritime risk consultancy Marisks said Thursday. The Encelia sustained damage after being hit by a projectile, Marisks said, while the Layla was also “targeted.
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Satellite imagery from NASA appears to show the Encelia on fire in the Red Sea.
There is a risk the Houthis “may broaden their interpretation of ‘Saudi-linked shipping’ to include foreign-flagged vessels trading with Saudi ports, carrying Saudi cargoes or operating under Saudi commercial interests,” Marisk added.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center said a tanker had been struck 70 nautical miles (around 80 miles) southwest of the Saudi Arabian town of Al Shuqaiq, but it did not provide the vessel’s name.
Meanwhile, Saudi Press Agency said the Encelia was “targeted while sailing in the Red Sea,” causing “a fire on the vessel’s bow,” citing an unnamed official at the General Transport Authority.
In its report, it did not comment on the Layla.
CNN’s Eleni Giokos contributed reporting.
US claims Iran is “begging” for a deal, as Tehran warns of “unlawful” threats. Catch up
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted on Thursday that Tehran is “begging” the Trump administration for a peace agreement, after reporters pressed him on the president’s threat to destroy Iranian bridges and power plants this week.
Rubio doubled down on those comments, describing Trump’s move as “a head for an eye,” refering to Iran’s threat to take “an eye for an eye.” He further claimed that Iranian officials “haven’t come to their senses” and are “clearly not ready to make a deal.
” An act of targeting civilian infrastructure could be considered a war crime.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, warned that Trump’s repeated threat to destroy Iranian bridges and power plants is “manifestly unlawful and criminal.
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That war of words escalated as both parties try to wrest control of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz – and now the Red Sea, opening up a new front of regional violence.
Here’s what you need to know:
- US strikes kill two people at Iran border: Two people were killed and 11 others injured after Washington launched a salvo across southern and western Fifty-three people have been killed by US strikes on Iran since July 6, the Iranian Ministry of Health said on Thursday.
- Iran fires on regional nations: The Iranian military launched four missiles toward Jordan early Thursday, three of which were intercepted, according to the Jordanian Armed Forces. Further east, sirens also sounded across Bahrain, the country’s interior minister said.
- New US-Saudi deal will have safeguards, says Rubio: The Secretary of State sought to allay concerns over a fresh nuclear pact between Riyadh and Washington, telling reporters in Manila that the Gulf ally was a “strategic partner.” He insisted there will be “safeguards in place to ensure that it can’t be turned into a weapons program.
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- Oil prices peak: The cost of Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose by 4% passing $98 a barrel early morning ET on Thursday, after the Iran-backed Houthis attacked two Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea.
Iran foreign minister’s "eye for an eye" comment shows how Tehran will respond to attacks
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Iran’s defense doctrine is an “eye for an eye” retaliation against any attack on its infrastructure.
In a post on X Tuesday, he said any aggression against Iran, including its infrastructure, would compel a powerful and decisive response.
The comments came in response to threats from Washington to bomb a bridge or power plant for every ship targeted in the Strait of Hormuz, after US President Donald Trump warned of strikes on Iranian infrastructure amid the ongoing standoff over shipping through the strait.
Araghchi’s post aligns with the message being sent by Iran’s top military brass. The IRGC’s commander, Brigadier General Seyyed Majid Mousavi, said any US attack on Iranian bridges or power plants would be met with immediate retaliation, warning that it would cut electricity to US allies hosting American forces in the region.
Just about a week ago, Iran’s IRGC-linked news outlets also said that the Revolutionary Guards would “respond in kind” to any American attacks or escalations and would respond proportionally to US aggression.
Iran has long favored what it believes are calibrated, proportional responses over open-ended escalation.
Its 2020 ballistic missile strikes on US forces at Iraq’s Ain al-Asad base, following the killing of General Qasem Soleimani, were widely seen as designed to inflict a symbolic, measured blow rather than trigger all-out war. They also implemented this strategy in 2024 and 2025.
US-Saudi nuclear pact could undermine Iran talks, expert warns
The US-Saudi nuclear agreement could undermine US efforts to rein in Iran’s nuclear ambitions, a former Pentagon advisor has warned.
US President Donald Trump approved a nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia on Wednesday that could lead to the kingdom enriching its own fuel for civilian reactors and bypassing international nuclear watchdogs.
Any agreement to give Saudi Arabia access to nuclear technology could prove controversial, both in the US and across the Middle East, since the ability to enrich nuclear fuel could, in theory, eventually lead to the creation of nuclear weapons.
“Iran is likely to point at this deal and ask: If the US is having these conversations with Saudi Arabia, why are they imposing such standards on us,” former Pentagon advisor Jasmine El Gamal told CNN’s Polo Sandoval.
El Gamal said the US-Saudi Arabia agreement, also known as the 123 agreement, could “set a precedent,” given Washington’s ambitions of restricting Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Both sides agreed to discuss Tehran’s nuclear program under the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed in June but later fell apart.
Oman calls for de-escalation in Red Sea region amid Houthi attacks
Oman called for de-escalation in the Red Sea region today after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the area, as the Iran conflict widens.
The ministry expressed the need to “avoid escalation and any threats that could exacerbate the situation and endanger freedom of navigation.
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The Houthis, one of Iran’s principal allies in the region, have long warned they could take action to block the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a chokepoint at the southern end of the Red Sea.
Earlier this week, the group declared a maritime blockade on Saudi shipping, an escalation that could further threaten global oil supplies.
Jordan says its air defenses intercepted Iranian missile attacks
Iran fired four missiles toward Jordan this morning, three of which were intercepted, according to the country’s armed forces, as Tehran continues its retaliatory strikes across the region.
Jordan’s air defenses “intercepted and shot down three missiles this morning, while the fourth missile landed in a remote, uninhabited area,” the armed forces said in a statement. There were no deaths or injuries, it added.
The fresh strikes follow six missiles Iran fired on Jordan on Wednesday.
Satellite imagery captured by the European Space Agency appears to show smoke rising from a building on the King Faisal Air Base in Jordan.
In Bahrain, citizens were urged today to “remain calm and head to the nearest safe place” as siren sounded across the country.
Rubio assures new US-Saudi nuclear program will have safeguards
A newly approved deal that could lead Saudi Arabia to enriching its own fuel for civilian nuclear reactors has raised some concerns among observers, but US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday assured the US-backed deal would have safeguards in place.
“When countries decide that they want to pursue a peaceful, civil nuclear program, we’d prefer them do it with us, (rather) than do it with some other country. It allows us to have influence over the direction that it goes.” Rubio told reporters from the ASEAN summit in Manila.
Rubio stressed that Riyadh was a “strategic partner” and that the agreement made sense.
The agreement, which was approved by President Donald Trump on Wednesday, will next go to Congress for a mandatory review.
Rubio says Iran "begging" US to make a deal, adds Trump's policy is "a head for an eye"
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday was asked about President Donald Trump’s recent threats to “bomb and destroy” a bridge or power plant every time Iran targets a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
Addressing reporters at a gaggle on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Manila, Rubio claimed, “Iran is begging us, both directly and indirectly: ‘Let’s do a deal. Let’s talk. Let’s talk.’”
He added that every time the US and Iran agree on a ceasfire deal “the people that are in charge there, they either break it or they want to change it.
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“So they’re going to continue to pay a price, and they’re going every night the price gets higher and higher and higher,” he added.
Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi recently described the country’s defense doctrine as “an eye for an eye.”
“Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response,” Araghchi said on X late Wednesday.
Oil at nearly $98 a barrel, a 7-week high, as Houthis target Red Sea tankers
Global oil prices rose sharply on Thursday, almost hitting $98 a barrel, as Iran-backed Houthi militants threaten to open a new front in the US’s war against Tehran.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was up 3.
9% by early morning ET while WTI, the US benchmark, had risen 2.9% to trade at $89 a barrel — both reaching their highest levels since early June.
Fears of a widening conflict in the Middle East have “fuelled speculation” that major central banks could hike interest rates to tame a potential uptick in inflation, Deutsche Bank analysts said in a note on Thursday.
Houthi militants based in Yemen claimed to have struck two Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea on Thursday, days after the group announced a naval blockade on Saudi ships. Riyadh has re-routed millions of barrels of its oil exports from the Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea, exiting via the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
Now, that lifeline for the global oil market looks more tenuous.
Brent has jumped 33% in July as the 60-day ceasefire between the US and Iran has unravelled. Washington launched a 12th consecutive night of strikes against Tehran overnight Wednesday.
“Oil markets have come under fresh pressure given the news about the Houthis… (raising) fresh supply fears given Saudi Arabia has redirected oil exports to the Red Sea port of Yanbu,” the Deutsche Bank analysts said.
Two killed in strike at Iran border crossing, Iranian media reports
Iranian media on Thursday reported US strikes across the country’s south and west, including at a border crossing with Iraq.
The reports follow the US military saying it conducted strikes against Iranian military and maritime targets, air defenses and missile and drone storage facilities.
Two people were killed and at least 11 others wounded due to what a Khuzestan provincial official described as a missile attack at the Shalamcheh crossing, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported Thursday.
Also in Khuzestan province, which borders Iraq and the Persian Gulf, locations on the outskirts of Andimeshk and Ahvaz, as well as an asphalt storage warehouse in Ramshir, were targeted by US strikes, IRNA and state broadcaster IRIB reported.
A strike was also reported at a site on the outskirts of Eslamabad-e Gharb, in western Iran’s Kermanshah province, according to IRNA.
IRNA also reported strikes in the port city of Bushehr, near Iran’s only operating commercial nuclear power reactor.
In southern Iran’s coastal Hormozgan province, explosions were reported in Sirik and Jask, IRIB reported.
Satellite image appears to show smoke rising from King Faisal base in Jordan on Wednesday
Satellite imagery captured by the European Space Agency on Wednesday appears to show smoke rising from a building on the King Faisal Air Base in Jordan.
In the image, a trail of black smoke can be seen billowing from a set of white building on the northwest portion of the base.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed on Wednesday that it had targeted King Faisal base along with Prince Hassan base in Jordan with missiles and drones.
Rubio meets Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov as Iran and Ukraine conflicts rage
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Manila Thursday morning.
Neither answered questions from reporters about whether Russia was supporting Iran by helping to target US troops, or whether Moscow plans to halt its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
A readout from the State Department later confirmed the two envoys discussed “the US-Russia relationship and the need to end the Russia-Ukraine war.”
On Telegram, Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova shared that Lavrov briefed Rubio on the situation along the front lines of the Ukraine war, and “emphasized the inadmissibility of further arming the Kyiv regime.
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Despite this, Lavrov confirmed that Russia was prepared for “a political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict,” Zakharova said.
Prior to the Thursday meeting, Rubio was asked by a reporter whether he planned to press Lavrov on Ukraine during their meeting.
“Obviously the war in Ukraine has in many ways impeded the ability of Russia and the United States to find areas of agreement on other topics, that doesn’t mean we won’t seek to find other areas of potential cooperation,” he said.
Asked what role the US is playing in reaching an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, given talks have dissipated, Rubio said: “Perhaps there are now new conditions in place that will allow that conversation to happen.
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For context: On the campaign trail in 2023 and 2024, US President Donald Trump said on dozens of occasions that he would end the war in Ukraine either within 24 hours of his return to the White House or even sooner than that.
More than 500 days into his second term in office, that war still rages with peace talks making little progress.
Satellite image appears to show Saudi oil tanker on fire in the Red Sea
Satellite imagery from NASA appears to show the Saudi-flagged tanker Encelia (IMO: 9240172) on fire in the Red Sea, following claims by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis that they struck two Saudi oil tankers early Thursday morning local time.
The bright spot visible in the image matches the location the Encelia was broadcasting via its Automatic Identification System (AIS), according to a CNN analysis of shipping data. A satellite image from the previous day showed no such bright spot at that location, indicating the bright spot is new.
The Encelia was “targeted while sailing in the Red Sea,” causing “a fire on the vessel’s bow,” Saudi State News Agency reported, citing an unnamed official at the General Transport Authority.
“All crew members are safe,” the report said.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a tanker was struck by an “unknown projectile” 70 nautical miles southwest of the Saudi Arabian town of Al Shuqaiq, which “caused a fire onboard.
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The UKMTO did not provide the name of the ship, however, the location they provided matches both the bright spot seen in the satellite imagery and the AIS position the Encelia was broadcasting.
NASA’s VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) sensor captures low-light and thermal emissions at night, making it sensitive enough to detect fires.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said they will “continue their naval operations” against Saudi Arabia and “persist in enforcing “a siege for a siege’ equation,” according to Reuters news agency.
CNN’s Lex Harvey contributed reporting.
"Eye for an eye.
" War of words between Tehran and Washington heats up
As the US and Iran continue to trade daily strikes, Tehran and Washington have also been engaging in an escalating war of words, with leaders on each side threatening to match any attacks with a more aggressive response.
“Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response,” he added.
What Trump said: Araghchi’s comments came after US President Donald Trump said Wednesday the US will “bomb and destroy one bridge or power plant” every time Iran targets a ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz, including those near or in the Iranian capital, Tehran.
Trump has previously threatened to target Iranian civilian infrastructure — which could be considered a war crime — including in an interview with Fox News last week when he said the US would “knock out all (Iran’s) bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate.
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How Iran responded: A senior Iranian official warned Iran will retaliate by striking infrastructure across the region.
Tehran also reiterated that it will “exercise its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz,” the Iranian military official said.
Houthis claim Red Sea attacks as US conducts more Iran strikes.
Catch up here
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis claimed to have struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea early on Thursday morning local time, an attack that threatens to create a new front in the war with Iran.
Meanwhile, the US military said it launched a new wave of strikes against Iran, and Iran’s revolutionary guards said Thursday local time that an oil tanker caught fire following an explosion near the Strait of Hormuz.
Here’s what else to know:
- Red Sea attacks: Satellite imagery from NASA appears to show the Saudi-flagged tanker Encelia on fire in the Red Sea after the UK maritime authority reported a tanker was struck off Saudi Arabia’s Al Shuqaiq, which “caused a fire onboard.
” It follows the Houthis’ announcement on Monday of a naval blockade on Saudi ships.
- Iran claims oil tanker caught fire: Iran’s IRGC said a vessel caught fire after it attempted to pass what it described as the mined route south of the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.
The IRGC did not give timing for the incidents or further details, and CNN cannot independently verify the claims.
- 12th night of strikes: The US military conducted more strikes on Iranian military and maritime targets Wednesday night, which were meant to “further degrade” Iran’s ability to threaten commercial vessels in regional waters, US Central Command said, as the two countries continue to trade threats to hit critical infrastructure.
- Trump’s threats: President Donald Trump said Wednesday the US will “bomb and destroy a bridge or power plant” every time Iran targets a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, in turn, will hit infrastructure and energy facilities across the region, an official told Iranian media.
- Pickaxe Mountain: Tehran has also accused Washington of using Pickaxe Mountain as a pretext for further attacks, after Trump earlier also threatened to attack the suspected underground nuclear site.
- Fallen soldiers: Trump attended a dignified transfer of four US service members who were killed in the war.
He described the solemn ritual as “one of the hardest things to do as a president.”
CNN’s Aleena Fayaz, Alejandra Jaramillo, Elise Hammond, Lex Harvey, Tal Shalev, Sophie Tanno and August Phillips contributed reporting to this post.
A new front is opening in the Iran war.
Oil faces "no way out"
The Houthis’ blockade of the Bab al-Mandeb strait couldn’t have come at a worse time for the oil market.
Iran’s proxies in Yemen have threatened to cut off a major bypass of the Strait of Hormuz, through which oil tanker traffic has slowed dramatically in recent days.
An effective Houthi blockade of Bab al-Mandeb would create a new front in the war with Iran, potentially requiring US military intervention that could then erode US ability to help ships out of the Strait of Hormuz. It also could prevent the Saudis from getting diesel to Europe at a crucial time for the fuel market.
Why the strait is important: Bab al-Mandeb isn’t as crucial as the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 million barrels of oil – 20% of the world’s daily supply – typically transited before the war. But Bab al-Mandeb is no slouch: About 6.2 million barrels of oil have been traveling through that strait every day over the past month, according to Kpler.
Read more about the impacts of a Houthi blockade here.
US Marine unit returns to Japan after deploying to Middle East during the early days of war
A US Navy amphibious ready group with about 2,200 Marines aboard has returned to Japan after deploying to the Middle East in early days of the US war with Iran.
The USS Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) “offloaded” the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to their base on the island of Okinawa on Wednesday, according to a US Navy statement.
The 31st MEU Marines were also considered to be a possible force for any US ground attack on Iran or its islands in the Strait of Hormuz or Persian Gulf.
Their departure from the Middle East leaves the USS Boxer ARG and its embarked 11th MEU, also with around 2,200 Marines, to help enforce the Washington’s reimposed blockade of Iran as well as be available for any possible ground contingencies.
The USS Tripoli and USS Boxer are amphibious assault ships, essentially small aircraft carriers displacing around 40,000 tons.
Besides the Marines, they carry watercraft to get them ashore and aircraft including helicopters and F-35B fighter jets.
Dignified transfer of 4 US service members recently killed in Iran war took place Wednesday
The dignified transfer of four US service members killed in fighting with Iran took place Wednesday at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
They are among the 18 US troops killed in connection with the war in Iran. During the transfer, which marks the return of the service members’ remains to the United States, transfer cases are used to transport them before they are taken to their final resting places.
After attending the dignified transfers, President Donald Trump reflected on how it is among the hardest parts of his job.
Here’s what we know about the four service members:
- Lt. Tyler Feehan, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, died July 18 in Jordan, the Department of Defense said.
He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 32nd Army Air Missile Defense Command in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Known by loved ones as “Tivo,” Feehan was looking forward to marrying his partner after his deployment. He also planned to go to law school as another way to serve others.
His family said he quoted the movie “Legally Blonde” often about studying law, saying: “What, like it’s hard?”
- Pvt. Isabella Gonzales just graduated from high school last spring before enlisting in the Army, her Texas high school told CNN. The 19-year-old from Carrollton, Texas, died in the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base strikes in Jordan on July 17, the Department of Defense said.
In her late teens, Gonzales exuded a level of self-confidence many spend their whole lives trying to find, her friend Jade Pena told CNN. “No matter where life took her, she never stopped being herself,” Pena said. “She remained kind, genuine, and full of light.
I miss her so much.”
- Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, was killed in action during the same Friday attack in Jordan, according to the Pentagon. The soldier was previously listed as missing by US Central Command. Rampersad was assigned to 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 52d Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Ansbach, Germany.
She served as a 25U Signal Operations Support Specialist, the Defense Department said in its statement.
- Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was killed on July 19. The Defense Department on Tuesday identified Swinton as another service member who was killed in action during a controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone in Iraq.
Swinton, 30, “answered the call to duty with courage, honor, and selfless dedication,” the Defense Department said.