TEHRAN: The United States carried out airstrikes on Sunday (Jul 19) to "punish" Iran after the first US military deaths since open hostilities rekindled the Middle East war.

Iran rapidly responded, saying two US bases in Kuwait were targeted in response to more than a week of intensifying attacks - which Tehran said included strikes on an airport, a railway station and bridges.

A preliminary deal aimed at ending the war has collapsed as the foes fight to break the deadlock over the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway key to the world's oil supply.

The Iranian army said it targeted two US bases in Kuwait with drones, hitting an ammunition depot at Camp Udairi and Patriot radar and air surveillance systems at the Ali Al Salem Air Base.

Tehran had also launched fresh strikes in Jordan, where the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) said two service members were killed on Friday as they "defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks".

CENTCOM said another service member was still missing in action.

These deaths brought to 16 the confirmed number of US military fatalities since the US and Israel launched the war with deadly strikes on Iranian targets on Feb 28.

The US military said it carried out an eighth consecutive night of strikes against Iran, with targets including units behind the attack that killed the two American troops in Jordan.

The attacks aimed to "swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night", CENTCOM said.

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said the US attacked an under-construction nuclear power plant in the country's southwest, as tensions between Tehran and Washington escalate.

In a statement carried by state TV, the agency said US forces "in an aggressive and brutal act contrary to international law, attacked the under-construction Darkhovin nuclear power plant ... with a number of projectiles on Sunday".

ATTACKS ON JORDAN

Sirens also sounded in Jordan, and the Israeli military said its forces along with Jordan's had intercepted an Iranian missile heading towards Jordan's port city of Aqaba.

Iran did not immediately confirm launching the attack, but the US embassy in Amman had earlier warne...