Iran Retaliates: Three US Service Members Killed, Five Critically Wounded
WASHINGTON – The Pentagon reported the first casualties among United States military personnel resulting from military operations against Iran. Three members of the US armed forces were reported killed during the operation.
According to Reuters, officials from US Central Command announced on Sunday that five additional service members were classified as “seriously wounded”. Several other service members “sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions – and are in the process of returning to duty,” according to a statement from US Central Command (CENTCOM).
A series of retaliatory strikes by Iran were launched against US military installations across the Middle East on Saturday, following air, land, and sea bombardment by the US and Israel against the Islamic Republic – a campaign designated Operation Epic Fury.
Initial reports on Saturday indicated no US casualties. Further details regarding the deaths of US military personnel remain unavailable.
The identities of the US service members killed in the operation are being withheld for 24 hours following notification of next of kin, officials stated. “Major combat operations continue and our response efforts are ongoing,” the statement read.
The operations conducted by US forces and their allies commenced on Saturday at 1:15 am, according to CENTCOM officials, with the objective of degrading “Iran regime security apparatus, prioritising locations representing imminent threats”.
Among the primary targets of the operation were command and control facilities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s air defence capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and military airbases, according to the statement.
The compound of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was also targeted in the operation. The Iranian government subsequently confirmed that Khamenei was killed in the strikes.
At least 201 people were killed and more than 700 wounded across Iran as a result of the US-Israel strikes, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society. Over one hundred of those killed were schoolgirls at one of Iran’s girls’ schools.