The United States of America on Sunday confirmed that three of its soldiers have been killed and five others severely injured in the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The U.S. Central Command made the development known in a post on X.
“As of 9:30 a.m. ET, March 1, three U.S. service members have been killed in action and five are seriously wounded as part of Operation Epic Fury,” the U.S. Central Command wrote.
It added, “Several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions—and are in the process of being returned to duty. Major combat operations continue, and our response effort is ongoing.”
The command also noted that the situation is fluid and will withhold additional information, including the identity of the soldiers who were killed in action, out of respect for their families, until 24 hours after their next of kin have been notified.
The U.S. and Israel launched a coordinated attack on Iran on Saturday, killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.
The 86-year-old supreme leader assumed power after the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989.
On Sunday, Iran’s state-owned media confirmed that Mr Khamenei was killed in a U.S.-Israel attack on Saturday, while a 40-day mourning period has been declared for the leader who reigned over Iran for over three decades.
Mr Khamenei was killed in his office after it was hit by missiles on Saturday.
The state media added that President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s head of the judiciary, will lead a temporary leadership council to oversee the country’s transitional phase following Mr Khamenei’s assassination.
