US President Donald Trump confirmed that three American service members were killed in a joint US-Israeli operation against Iran and warned that more casualties were likely before the fighting was over. He said the fighting would continue until the United States achieved all of its objectives.
Trump said this in his second video address about the operation, published on Truth Social on March 1.
“Earlier today CENTCOM “US Central Command reported that three American service members were killed in action. As a nation, we mourn the true American patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” Trump said.
According to CBS News, the dead were stationed at a military base in Kuwait and belonged to a logistics unit. CENTCOM confirmed the deaths of three service members and serious injuries to five. Several others suffered minor shrapnel wounds and concussions.
Trump warned that the casualties “will likely be higher,” but promised to do everything possible to prevent that from happening.
“America will avenge their deaths and deal the most devastating blow to the terrorists who have unleashed a war against civilization itself,” he said.
Trump stressed that the resolve of the United States and Israel “has never been stronger,” and called the operation necessary so that “Americans never have to face a radical, bloodthirsty terrorist regime armed with nuclear weapons.”
“Combat operations are continuing at full strength and will continue until we achieve all of our objectives,” Trump said.
According to him, in the 36 hours of Operation Epic Fury, American forces struck hundreds of targets, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facilities, air defense systems, and destroyed nine Iranian ships.
Trump called on IRGC fighters to lay down their arms and receive “total immunity or face certain death.” He also appealed to Iranians: “Be brave, be heroic, and take back your country. America is with you.”
Israeli and US military operation against Iran
On February 28, Israel attacked the Iranian capital, Tehran. US President Donald Trump later said that the US military had launched a “major combat operation” against Iran to “eliminate the imminent threat posed by the Iranian regime”. He accused the Iranian regime of “funding and training” militants in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Hamas in Palestine. According to him, the aim of the military operation is to “destroy Iran's missile industry and navy” and “ensure that it cannot destabilise the world”.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had launched missiles and drones towards Israel, and also attacked US military bases in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Amid the US military operation against Iran, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Paris is calling for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.
The European Union said it reaffirmed its “unwavering commitment to ensuring regional security and stability” in the Middle East.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it was fair to give the Iranians a chance to get rid of “the terrorist regime and guarantee the security of all peoples who have suffered from attacks from Iran.”
On February 28, Trump tweeted that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was dead. The information was later confirmed by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
On March 1, the IRGC announced that it was launching “the most devastating offensive operation in the history of the Islamic Republic” against Israel and “American terrorist bases.” Trump called on the Iranian regime to abandon these plans and threatened to strike “a very strong blow” in response.