Featured Image Credit: Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images
Topics: Iran, Military, Israel, Saudi Arabia
William Morgan
Topics: Iran, Military, Israel, Saudi Arabia
Following 24 hours of deadly explosions from drone and missile attacks across the Middle East, the US military has confirmed the first American deaths from the US and Israel's attack on Iran.
At least three US service personnel have been killed as a result of Iran's retaliation against a number of American military sites across the region, as well as its Gulf state allies like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
US Central Command, the wing of the Department of Defense that covers operations in the Middle East, shared the tragic news on the morning of Sunday, March 1, saying: "As of 9:30 am ET, March 1, three U.S. service members have been killed in action and five are seriously wounded as part of Operation Epic Fury.
"Several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions — and are in the process of being returned to duty. Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing."
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This is the first confirmation that Iran's retaliatory attacks against the US and Israel's 'pre-emptive' strike yesterday.
Iran's explosive response has seen drones and ballistic missiles rain down on its Western-allied nieghbors, destroying a billion dollar radar installation in Qatar, as well as targeting a number of American bases and command centers in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq.
The Department of Defense did not confirm the identities of the fallen soldiers, or which country they had died in.
CENT COM's statement continued: "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."
Missiles and suicide drones have continued to fly across the region on the second day of President Trump's 'major combat operations' against Iran, which has already decapitated the Islamic Republic's leadership, including its infamous Ayatollah Khamenei.
This is despite the president's warning last night that the US military could still hit Iran with more explosive destruction if it does not capitulate to America's demands, which currently appear to be nothing short of total regime change.
A bellicose Trump posted on Truth Social last night: "Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever hit before. THEY BETTER NOT DO THAT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE IF THEY DO, WE WILL HIT THEM WITH A FORCE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!"
Democrats have been quick to slam the president for causing these deaths of American soldiers, according to Politico. New Jersey Senator Andy Kim responded to the sad news, saying: “He tries to pass it off as if it’s like ‘oh, we’re at war, and it’s terrible that service members might be killed.
“He is choosing this. He put [U.S. troops] in harm’s way. They didn’t have to die.”
Meanwhile the conflict, which has not been approved by Congress as required by the Constitution, shows no sign of de-escalating.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is understood to have ordered the first strike in the conflict, said on Sunday that missile attacks would only 'increase'. He said in a video address: "Our forces are now striking the heart of Tehran with increasing strength, which will increase even more in the coming days."
He added that the decapitating strike that killed Khamenei was something Israel had been 'hoping to do for 40 years' and was looking forward to further 'assistance of the United States'.