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Four American service members have been killed and four others seriously wounded during Operation Epic Fury, the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, U.S. Central Command said Monday.
CENTCOM said one of the wounded troops died overnight after initially surviving Iran’s first wave of retaliatory attacks, raising the death toll from three to four.
“The fourth service member, who was seriously wounded during Iran’s initial attacks, eventually succumbed to their injuries,” the command said in a social media statement.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the fatal incident occurred when an incoming munition struck a U.S. tactical operations center in Kuwait.
The military said the identities of the fallen service members would be withheld for 24 hours to allow time for notification of next of kin.
Trump acknowledges casualties
President Donald Trump acknowledged the deaths in media interviews Sunday, saying casualties were expected as the conflict escalated.
“We expect casualties with something like this,” Trump told NBC News. “But in the end it’s going to be a great deal for the world.”
Speaking separately to The Daily Mail, Trump described the fallen troops as “great people” with “outstanding records,” adding that further casualties could occur as fighting continues.
“It could happen again,” he said.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee offered condolences on social media, writing, “May their memory be a blessing.”
Escalating regional conflict
The casualties come amid rapidly widening hostilities following the launch of Operation Epic Fury early Saturday. U.S. and Israeli forces carried out extensive airstrikes across Iran, including a strike on a compound in Tehran that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Iranian state media and Israeli military statements.
The Israel Defense Forces said additional senior Iranian officials and military commanders were also killed, including a close adviser to Khamenei.
Iran responded with missile and drone strikes against Israel and U.S.-allied nations across the Middle East. Israeli emergency services said at least eight civilians were killed Sunday when a missile struck Beit Shemesh, west of Jerusalem.
U.S. officials have said Iran also targeted American military installations in the region, including sites in Kuwait.
Administration defends mission
In a video address posted Saturday, Trump said his administration had taken extensive precautions to protect U.S. forces.
Message from President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/Xhk3ibylSQ
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 1, 2026
“We’ve taken every possible step to minimize the risk to U.S. personnel,” he said.
“The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost — that often happens in war,” Trump added. “We’re doing this not just for now. We’re doing this for the future, and it is a noble mission.”
Pentagon officials have not disclosed whether additional U.S. forces were injured in subsequent attacks, and have warned the situation remains fluid as Iran and Israel continue to exchange strikes.
