Breaking: Three U.S. Service Members killed in ongoing Operations against Iran

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Sunday that three American service members have been killed in action during military operations targeting Iran.

This marks the first reported U.S. fatalities since joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets began over the weekend.

In a statement released around 9:30 a.m. ET, CENTCOM reported that five additional service members were seriously wounded.

Several others sustained minor injuries, including shrapnel wounds and concussions, and are being returned to duty.

The operation, designated Operation Epic Fury, involves sustained combat efforts against Iranian military infrastructure, following initial airstrikes launched late Saturday.

“The identities of the fallen service members will be withheld for at least 24 hours to allow notification of their next of kin,” CENTCOM stated.

No further details on the specific circumstances of the casualties, such as location, unit, or nature of the engagement, were immediately provided, though officials emphasized that “major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing.”

The announcement comes amid escalating conflict in the region. On Saturday, February 28, 2026, U.S. and Israeli forces initiated large-scale strikes on Iran, targeting elements of the regime’s security apparatus, including command centers, air defenses, missile sites, and airfields.

President Donald Trump, in announcing the operation, had cautioned that “the lives of American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war.” Those words proved prescient less than 48 hours later.

The strikes reportedly resulted in significant Iranian losses, including the confirmed death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior military commanders.

Iran has launched retaliatory attacks on U.S. bases, Israel, and regional targets, though earlier reports indicated no U.S. casualties from initial Iranian missile and drone barrages.