U.S. Central Command said Sunday that three American service members were killed and five others were seriously wounded during Operation Epic Fury, the joint U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran.
“Several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions — and are in the process of being returned to duty,” CENTCOM said in a post on social media.
The military’s initial statement did not give details on where the casualties took place.
“Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing. 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 statement said
The U.S. and Israel launched a massive military operation early Saturday in Iran, including striking Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s compound in Tehran and killing him. The Israel Defense Forces said Saturday that several other Iranian officials and commanders were killed, including an adviser to Khamenei.
Iran’s military launched retaliatory strikes on Israel as well as other U.S.-allied nations in the Middle East. Earlier Sunday, Israeli medics said at least eight people were killed in a missile strike in Beit Shemesh, near Jerusalem.
In a video posted to social media on Saturday, President Trump said his administration had taken “every possible step to minimize the risk to U.S. personnel.”
“The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties, that often happens in war,” Mr. Trump said. “We’re doing this, not for now, we’re doing this for the future, and it is a noble mission.”
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