U.S. President Trump [AP=Yonhap News]

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on the 20th (local time) his firm intention to retaliate, warning that Iran will pay a multiple-fold price for every U.S. service member killed by Iranian attacks.

President Trump said via his social media platform, Truth Social, that day, "For every U.S. soldier Iran kills, they will pay a multiple-fold price," adding, "This directive has been conveyed to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Cain, and all military leadership."

Seventeen U.S. service members have been killed since the start of the war with Iran at the end of February.

Most recently, two U.S. soldiers stationed in Jordan were killed on the 17th by Iranian missile and drone strikes, and another U.S. soldier died on the 18th in Iraq while controlling and detonating an unexploded Iranian drone.

The U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. forces in the Middle East, launched nighttime airstrikes against Iran for the ninth consecutive day yesterday. With the first combat deaths occurring since the ceasefire phase began, there are signs that the U.S. military intends to increase the intensity of its attacks, using the term "retaliation."

As the war with Iran prolongs and U.S. casualties continue to rise, this move is interpreted as an effort to send a strong warning to Iran while simultaneously addressing concerns over deteriorating domestic public opinion.