Three US service members killed in Operation Epic Fury against Iran
The Pentagon announced the first American combat deaths since joint US-Israeli strikes began Saturday, with five others seriously wounded.
5 hrs ago
Three US service members have been killed in action during Operation Epic Fury, the joint US-Israeli military operation against Iran, US Central Command announced Sunday. The deaths mark the first confirmed American casualties since strikes against Iran began Saturday.
Five additional personnel have been seriously wounded in the operation, CENTCOM said. Several other troops sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions and are in the process of being returned to duty, according to the military command.
CENTCOM did not disclose the location where the service members were killed or injured. Two military officials indicated that an Army base housing American troops in Kuwait was among the many American bases in the region that had been targeted in retaliatory Iranian strikes. The involvement of shrapnel in some injuries could suggest they resulted from Iranian strikes, though CENTCOM has not explicitly confirmed this.
"Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing," CENTCOM said in a statement. "The situation is fluid, so out of respect for the families, we will withhold additional information, including the identities of our fallen warriors, until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified."
The US and Israel launched the initial wave of strikes Saturday morning targeting Iran. The operation resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response, Iran launched hundreds of retaliatory missiles at a wide range of American and Israeli targets across the Middle East.
On Saturday, before the casualties were announced, CENTCOM had stated that it received no reports of combat casualties following Iran's initial barrage of missiles and drones. The command said at that time that damage to US installations was minimal and had not impacted operations.
President Donald Trump had cautioned when announcing the military action that "the lives of American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war."
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee offered condolences to those killed and injured, stating on social media: "May their memory be a blessing."