US Navy photo
- Six American service members have been killed as part of combat operations against Iran.
- Several others have been seriously wounded.
- The US and Israel began major combat operations against Iran on Saturday.
Two American service members who were missing after Iranian strikes have been declared dead, bringing the US death toll from the fighting that began over the weekend to six, the military said on Monday.
US Central Command, which oversees Middle East operations, said American forces recovered the remains of two service members from a facility that Iran struck . They were previously unaccounted for.
Several other troops have suffered from shrapnel injuries and concussions.
CENTCOM said on Sunday that three service members were killed and five were seriously hurt during combat operations against Iran. It marked the military's first acknowledgement of any US losses since American forces began striking Iran alongside Israel on Saturday.
One of the injured service members succumbed to their injuries, the military said on Monday. "The identities of the fallen are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notification."
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters on Monday that the four service members were killed at a fortified tactical operation center while they were engaged in air defense against Iranian munitions.
President Donald Trump vowed on Sunday to seek vengeance for US service members killed.
"As one nation, we grieve for the true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, even as we continue the righteous mission for which they gave their lives," he said in a video address.
"And sadly, there will likely be more before it ends. That's the way it is," Trump said. The president had warned on Saturday that the US could suffer losses as a result of the conflict with Iran.
US Central Command
"The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war," Trump said in a video address to the nation. "But we're doing this — not for now — we're doing this for the future, and it is a noble mission."
The military's earlier casualty update came just hours after it said three American F-15E fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwait in "an apparent friendly fire incident." All six crew members ejected and were safely recovered, CENTCOM said, adding that they are in stable condition.
Dozens of people have been killed and wounded by Iranian strikes in Israel and the United Arab Emirates, and hundreds of people in Iran have been killed and wounded by US and Israeli strikes, according to local authorities.
The Israeli military said on Sunday that it killed 40 senior Iranian commanders, as well as the country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
A wide range of American forces — on land, in the air, and at sea — have participated in the airstrikes against Iran, targeting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) command and control facilities, air defenses, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields.
US forces have also been involved in air defense operations to shield American assets and allies across the Middle East from hundreds of Iran's retaliatory missile and drone attacks.
Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at US forces based in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE, and has also targeted most other Middle East countries, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Iraq.
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