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WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said the U.S. would escalate retaliatory strikes against Tehran, bombing or destroying one bridge or power plant every time a ship comes under attack in the Strait of Hormuz, after the U.S. announced the death of additional service members overseas.
"From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT, including those located next to, or in, the Capital City of Tehran," Trump said in a Truth Social post on July 22.
Trump made the comments hours before he arrived at a dignified transfer of U.S. service members who were killed during an Iranian strike on a U.S. military base in Jordan. Another soldier died in Iraq.
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Two soldiers were initially identified by the U.S. military as has having being killed in Jordan. The Pentagon said on July 21 that it had identified the remains of a third soldier who was believed to have died in the July 17 attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base. The Pentagon said a fourth U.S. soldier died at t Erbil Air Base in Iraq. The incidents are under investigation.
"For me, it's one of the hardest things to do as a president, but it has to be done," Trump told reporters as he left for Dover Air Force Base for the dignified transfer.
The announcement came as the U.S. launched its eleventh straight day of attacks on Iran following the collapse of a ceasefire between the two nations in the war that began on Feb. 28. At least 18 American service members have died in the conflict.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump threatens to escalate retaliatory strikes on Iran, bomb bridges
