Three U.S. service members have been killed following the resumption of the Iran war, prompting Democratic lawmakers to demand an immediate end to the renewed hostilities.
In northern Iraq, one U.S. service member was “killed in action” on Saturday during a “controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone,” U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Sunday.
This came after two U.S. service members in Jordan were “killed in action as U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks” on Friday.
Amid the U.S. completing its ninth consecutive evening of strikes against Iran late Sunday, President Donald Trump paid tribute to the fallen, calling them “great patriots.”
Trump told reporters on the tarmac of Joint Base Andrews in Maryland that the latest strikes against Iran had been carried out in honor of the killed U.S. service members.
The Pentagon on Monday released the names of two of the slain U.S. service members. “1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii was killed in action on July 18, 2026, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, was killed in action on July 17, 2026, during an enemy attack at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, Jordan. The incident is under investigation,” read the statement.
Since the U.S. and Israel launched the initial strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, an estimated 17 U.S. military personnel have been killed in the war. There was a respite from active hostilities following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on June 17, that laid out the terms of an extended 60-day cease-fire to allow time for further negotiations to take place.
But after Iranian strikes targeted vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump declared the interim agreement was “over” on July 8.
A series of tit-for-tat strikes have since ensued, with Tehran launching attacks on U.S. military bases in neighbouring Gulf states, bringing renewed instability to the region.
When Trump informed Congress on July 10 that the Iran war had resumed, Democratic lawmakers went on to show their disapproval by blocking an annual defense policy bill.
In light of the deaths of three U.S. service members over the past few days, Democratic lawmakers are again calling for the renewed strikes between Washington and Tehran to come to an immediate end.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Sunday evening that “the reckless and costly war of choice in Iran has been a disaster” for the American people. “May God continue to watch over our troops who have needlessly been put into harm’s way,” he added.
After the initial deaths were announced on Saturday, Jeffries declared: “No more American heroes need to die because of this reckless war of choice.”
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon called for a cessation of the hostilities.
“In the past few days, three U.S. service members have lost their lives because of the war with Iran. My heart goes out to their family and friends,” she said. “Congress and the American people have spoken: this war must come to an end.”
Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland issued a similar plea, insisting: “This senseless war should never have been started and it needs to end now.”
A poll conducted by The Economist and YouGovfound that 57% of American adults surveyed between July 10-14 believe the decision to go to war was wrong.
Both the House of Representatives and the Senate passed War Powers Act resolutions last month aimed to restrict Trump from continuing the war.
Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California filed a new War Powers Resolution last week after the collapse of the cease-fire.
Rep. Ted Lieu of California called for Republicans “to join us in passing the War Powers Resolution now,” as he responded to news of the fallen service members over the weekend.
Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey denounced the renewed active conflict and said lawmakers’ “resolve and urgency to use every tool and power at our disposal to end this unconstitutional war must continue.”
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire issued a similar call, arguing that “the President must negotiate an end to this disastrous war.” In agreement, Rep. Ro Khanna of California said: “End the war in Iran.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut warned that “the scale of attacks—and threats of escalation—are increasing rapidly.”
“Trump has frighteningly lost control of this war,” he argued.
Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey said “we have to get our soldiers out of harms way and end this war.”
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