Iran is evading U.S. defenses to kill and wound American soldiers — it's not just that "one leaked through."

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July 21, 2026 / 12:36 PM EDT

/ CBS News

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Amman, Jordan — When an Iranian missile hits its intended target, it's because U.S. air defenses either failed to intercept it, or failed to even see it coming in the first place."One leaked through," is how Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the Iranian attack on an air base in Jordan that killed two U.S. soldiers and left one missing in action on Friday. "A missile got through. We shot down almost all the missiles. One leaked through … it's heartbreaking."When that happens more than once, which it has over the past week in Jordan, that's not a "leaker." That's a problem for the U.S.The same base, the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, had been hit twice in a 48-hour period prior to the deadly strike on Friday. Direct hits. As CBS News reported Monday, dozens of U.S. military personnel were wounded. Iranian, precision-guided munitions somehow managed to evade Jordanian and US missile defense systems to reach their targets. Twice. And the attacks continue — more Iranian missiles and drones were intercepted by Jordanian forces on Tuesday.