Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, has expressed his condolences and called for prayers for peace following the deaths of two US Army soldiers amid the conflict with Iran.

“The continued conflict with Iran has occasioned more victims,” Archbishop Broglio said in a statement released on July 20.

“On behalf of all the faithful of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, I express heartfelt condolences to the families whose loved ones have been killed or are missing in action — most recently in Jordan.”

The archbishop also asked “all men and women of good will to pray for peace among nations and a quick resolution to the current dispute. May there be no more innocent victims on either side so that all peoples might enjoy security and tranquillity.”

On Monday, the US Department of War identified the two soldiers as 1st Lt Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas.

According to the department, Gonzales died on July 17 and Feehan on July 18. The two soldiers were killed in an attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on July 17. They were the first US troops to be killed by direct Iranian fire since the early days of the conflict.

The incident remains under investigation, said the department. 

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