The Pentagon has identified Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, of Ozone Park, New York, as the third U.S. service member believed to have been killed in an Iranian ballistic missile and drone attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. The incident, which took place late last week, is currently under investigation, according to the Department of Defense.
Rampersad was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 10th Army Air & Missile Defense Command, based in Ansbach, Germany. Following the attack, U.S. Central Command initially reported two deaths and one service member missing. On July 19, officials announced that unidentified remains had been discovered at the location. The military has since updated Rampersad’s status from Duty Status–Whereabouts Unknown
to believed to be deceased.
Context of the Jordan Assault
The attack in Jordan represents the first U.S. troop deaths resulting from direct Iranian fire since the initial days of the ongoing conflict. The soldiers were deployed to support a mission against the Islamic State group. On Monday, the Pentagon confirmed the deaths of two other soldiers killed in the same July 17 attack: Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, and 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul paid tribute to Rampersad on X, stating that the state was mourning the loss of one of our own
and offering condolences to the soldier’s family, loved ones, and fellow service members.
Rising Casualties and Regional Escalation
The deaths of the three soldiers in Jordan bring the total number of U.S. service members killed since the war began to 18. According to the Military Times, more than 400 U.S. troops have been wounded in the campaign, which commenced on Feb. 28.
The regional conflict has intensified, with both the U.S. and Iran engaging in barrages of strikes. As reported by Nbcnews, the U.S. military has been conducting bombing operations across Iran for multiple consecutive nights. Iranian authorities claim that U.S. strikes over the past three weeks have resulted in at least 50 deaths and more than 500 injuries.
Additional Military Losses
In a separate incident on Sunday, Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, was killed at an air base in Irbil, Iraq, during a controlled detonation of an Iranian drone. Swinton, a father from North Carolina, had served for nearly a decade. The Army confirmed that Swinton will be posthumously awarded a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and a Combat Action Badge, and will be promoted to the rank of staff sergeant.
The military continues to navigate these losses as tensions persist. President Donald Trump has characterized the military operations as necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. A ceremony for the dignified transfer of remains is expected to take place at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
Summary of Reported Fatalities in Jordan
| Name | Rank | Age | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angel S. Rampersad | Sgt. | 28 | Ozone Park, New York |
| Tyler James Feehan | 1st Lt. | 25 | Ewa Beach, Hawaii |
| Isabella Gonzales | Pvt. | 19 | Carrollton, Texas |