Pentagon confirms 3 American deaths in Iran war
The US president vows to ‘avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow’
US President Donald Trump vowed to press ahead with a sweeping military campaign against Iran until US objectives are fully achieved, warning that additional American casualties were likely even as Washington intensified what he described as one of the largest offensives in modern history.
“Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends,” Trump said in a video posted on social media, referring to the deaths of three US service members confirmed earlier by the US Central Command.
“That’s the way it is likely be more, but we’ll do everything possible where that won’t be the case, but America will avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow to the terrorists who have waged war against, basically, civilization,” he added.
Trump said Operation Epic Fury, launched with Israel, had already struck hundreds of targets across Iran, including Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) facilities, air defence systems and naval assets.
Trump warns of more casualties as 3 US soldiers killed in Iran offensive
He added that combat operations were continuing “in full force” and would not stop until US goals were met. “Combat operations continue at this time in full force, and they will continue until all of our objectives are achieved,” Trump said. “We have very strong objectives.”
Hours later on Monday, Iran and Iranian-backed militias fired missiles at Israel and Arab states and Israel and the US pounded targets in Iran as the war expanded. Israeli forces launched strikes on Lebanon including the capital Beirut after militant group Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader.