First U.S. Casualties Reported
U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that more than 48 Iranian leaders have been killed in the ongoing U.S.–Israeli airstrikes on Iran, describing the operation as a major success.
“Nobody can believe the success we’re having, 48 leaders are gone in one shot. And it’s moving along rapidly,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News.
The strikes, launched on Saturday, are aimed at dismantling Iran’s leadership structure and degrading its military capabilities. Iran has already confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
In a separate interview with CNBC, Trump reiterated his confidence in the operation’s progress. “We’re doing our job not just for us but for the world. And everything is ahead of schedule,” he said. “Things are evolving in a very positive way right now, a very positive way.”
The interviews preceded the U.S. military’s confirmation of its first casualties in the conflict. United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that three service members were killed, five seriously wounded, and several others sustained lighter injuries. CENTCOM also confirmed that U.S. forces sank an Iranian warship docked in the Gulf of Oman as part of ongoing operations.
The strikes come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following the coordinated targeting of Iran’s political and military leadership by U.S. and Israeli forces.