US confirms death of missing sergeant, raising war toll to 18

The US Department of Defense has confirmed the death of Sergeant Angel S. Rampersad, 28, who was previously listed as missing after an Iranian attack on July 17 against the Muwaffaq Salti air base in Jordan. This raises the number of US military fatalities since the start of the war with Iran to 18 Source: infobae. Rampersad's death brings to three the number of soldiers killed in that single attack, according to the Pentagon Source: mileniomx.

Earlier, the Pentagon identified two other soldiers who died in the same attack: First Lieutenant Tyler James Feehan, 25, and Private Isabella Gonzales, 19 Source: cnn. Separately, Sergeant Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, was killed on July 19 during a controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone in Erbil, Iraq Source: excelsiormx.

Casualty figures

Reports differ slightly on total fatalities: some sources cite 17 deaths Source: excelsiormx prior to Rampersad's confirmation, while others now list 18 Source: infobae. The Pentagon reports approximately 100 US personnel wounded in the past two weeks Source: excelsiormx.

Political response

President Donald Trump has threatened Iran, warning that "every time Iran kills a US soldier, they will pay many times over" Source: mileniomx. Trump also announced a possible imminent attack on a Iranian nuclear-linked facility, Mountain Peak . Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue: Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the US remains open to dialogue, and Iran has also expressed openness to talks .