Three US service members were killed and several others injured in clashes tied to US-Israeli strikes on Iran, US Central Command said in a statement on Sunday. Several others sustained “minor shrapnel injuries and concussions — and are in the process of being returned to duty,” the statement added. Military officials did not provide details on how or when the troops were killed or wounded.
The announcement is the first confirmation of US casualties since the US and Israel launched a major attack on Iran on Saturday that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior Iranian military figures. “Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing,” Central Command said. The statement said the situation is fluid and, out of respect for families, it would withhold additional information, including the identities of the fallen, until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified.
US President Donald Trump had warned on Saturday that there could be US casualties in the conflict, saying “that often happens in war.”
Tehran has responded to the strikes by launching missiles at Israel and US military facilities across the Middle East. Iran said it attacked the USS Abraham Lincoln with four ballistic missiles, but US Central Command said the ship “was not hit” and that Iran’s missiles “didn’t even come close.” Trump said on social media the US military had destroyed nine ships in the Iranian navy and was “going after the rest.”
The US operation against Iran, named “Epic Fury,” has so far killed at least 200 people in Iran, according to the Red Crescent. In Israel, an Iranian strike on the central town of Beit Shemesh killed nine people and wounded 28, bringing the country’s death toll to 11; more are missing. The United Arab Emirates reported three dead in Iranian attacks there, and Kuwait reported one dead.
Edited by: Darko Janjevic
Embedded video — Iranian president: Armed forces “destroy the enemy’s bases”