Three members of the US military have been “killed in action” and five “seriously wounded” in the operation against Iran, the Pentagon said Sunday, without providing further detail.
The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday that three US service members were killed in action and five others seriously wounded during military operations against Iran, the first American casualties since the United States launched massive airstrikes on the country on Saturday.
The joint US–Israeli strikes targeted Iran’s leadership and military infrastructure, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and prompting retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the West Asia. The strikes have reverberated globally, raising fears of wider conflict and potential disruptions to international stability and the world economy.
Violence spread on Sunday to multiple locations. Israeli forces launched a major strike on Tehran, while Iran fired drones and missiles at US military bases in the Gulf and targeted Dubai, a major commercial hub. Clashes in Pakistan, including a storming of the US consulate, left at least nine people dead.
President Donald Trump, in announcing the strikes, urged Iranians to seize the moment and “take over,” framing the operation as a chance for political change. In response, Iran established a council to govern until a new supreme leader is chosen, while a diplomat told the United Nations Security Council that hundreds of civilians had been killed or wounded.
The strikes followed recent U.S.–Iran negotiations in which the Trump administration pressed Tehran to limit its nuclear program. Meanwhile, Iran has been grappling with domestic dissent, as nationwide economic protests morphed into anti-government demonstrations.
Targets of the strikes included Revolutionary Guard command facilities, air defence systems, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields. The first attacks hit near Khamenei’s offices, while Israel said it also killed 40 senior Iranian military officials, including the commander of the Revolutionary Guard and the defence minister.
This is not the first U.S.–Israeli military action in Iran. In June of last year, strikes during nuclear talks weakened Iran’s air defence, military leadership, and nuclear program. US officials maintain that Iran has been rebuilding its nuclear capabilities, while Tehran insists its program is purely for peaceful purposes.
With inputs from agencies
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