The US Central Command has confirmed the deaths of six American service members in ongoing military operations against Iran, marking a significant escalation in casualties since the strikes began on Saturday. The announcement on Monday afternoon included the recovery of remains of two previously unaccounted-for personnel from a facility struck during Iran's initial attacks.
Earlier on Monday, the military had reported a fourth fatality, with the service member succumbing to injuries sustained in Iran's initial assaults. On Sunday, three US service members were confirmed killed and five seriously wounded as part of Operation Epic Fury, the joint US-Israeli operation. Two US officials told Reuters that the troops were killed at a base in Kuwait.
In a separate incident, the US military reported that three US fighter jets were mistakenly shot down over Kuwait in a friendly fire event, though all six crew members ejected safely. The Pentagon stated that major combat operations continue, with the identities of the fallen withheld pending next-of-kin notification.
President Donald Trump, who announced the start of Operation Epic Fury on Saturday, acknowledged the likelihood of casualties, stating, 'the lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties.' He vowed that America would 'avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow to the terrorists.' Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remarked, 'War is hell and always will be,' and expressed gratitude for the fallen.
The State Department expanded its travel warning for Americans in the Middle East, adding 14 countries including Qatar and the UAE to the list where citizens should leave immediately. Since Saturday, US and Israeli forces have conducted large-scale strikes across Iran, including the compound of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed. Iran has retaliated with missiles aimed at Israel and US facilities in Bahrain and the UAE. The Iranian Red Crescent reported over 500 deaths in Iran since Saturday.
