President Trump acknowledged that more U.S. service members will “likely” die in the ongoing operation against Iran, which he also revealed is expected to last about four weeks, as reported by The Hill. This is a tough reality to hear, especially as the nation processes the initial casualties.
Earlier on Sunday, U.S. Central Command (Centcom) confirmed that three American service members had been killed in action. Additionally, five were injured, and “several” others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions during the joint operation launched by the U.S. and Israel against Iran.
President Trump addressed the situation in a video posted on his Truth Social platform. He stated, “We pray for the full recovery of the wounded and send our immense love and eternal gratitude to the families of the fallen.” He then added, “And sadly, there will be likely be more, before it ends. That’s the way it is. [There will] likely be more but we’ll do everything possible where that won’t be the case.”
The president is preparing the public for potential further losses while trying to reassure them that efforts are being made to prevent them
The operation, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” kicked off at 1:15 AM EST on Saturday. It’s a massive deployment, utilizing stealth B-2 bombers, F-16, F-18, and F-22 fighter jets, and M-142 high mobility artillery rocket systems, among other advanced assets. Centcom provided details on the scope of the initial 24 hours of strikes.
During this period, U.S. forces targeted several critical Iranian assets. These included Iranian command and control centers, the joint and aerospace forces headquarters of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), integrated air defense systems, and ballistic missile sites. Naval targets were also hit, with Iranian navy ships and submarines, along with anti-ship missile sites and military communication capabilities, being struck.
Centcom even shared videos of the U.S. hitting IRGC headquarters and Iranian ballistic missile sites on X, giving us a glimpse into the intensity of the operation. President Trump further claimed that the U.S. sank nine Iranian navy ships and destroyed Iranian naval buildings.
A major development in the conflict is the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He was killed in the joint U.S. and Israeli strikes, along with a number of other political and military officials. President Trump did not shy away from celebrating Khamenei’s demise, calling him a “wretched and vile man” who “had the blood of hundreds, even thousands, of Americans on his hands.”
In the wake of Khamenei’s death, an interim leadership council has reportedly taken charge in Iran. This council includes Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Guardian Council jurist member Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, and head of the Iranian judiciary Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i. This rapid transition suggests the situation in Iran is highly fluid.
President Trump also used his platform to issue a stern warning and an appeal to the Iranian people. He reiterated his call for the IRGC, the armed forces, and police to “lay down your arms” or “face certain death.” Beyond that, he urged the Iranian people to “seize this moment” and reclaim control of their country, which has been governed by the Islamic Republic for over four decades, often crushing dissent.
“Be brave, be bold, heroic and take back your country,” Trump remarked. “America is with you. I made a promise to you and I fulfilled that promise. The rest will be up to you, but we’ll be there to help.”
Published: Mar 2, 2026 11:30 am