President Donald Trump said more U.S. service members will likely die in the widening U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran after the Pentagon confirmed three American service members were killed and at least five seriously wounded.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump called the dead “true American patriots” who made the ultimate sacrifice and said, “sadly, there will likely be more before it ends.” He vowed the U.S. would avenge the deaths, accused Iran of waging war “against civilization,” and warned that additional Iranian naval targets would be struck.
U.S. Central Command confirmed the casualties Sunday — the first U.S. fatalities since the Saturday strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told NPR the troops killed were ground-based personnel stationed in Kuwait. The military said several other service members suffered minor shrapnel injuries and concussions and were returning to duty.
CENTCOM said the operation, called “Epic Fury,” struck an Iranian Jamaran-class corvette that was sinking at a pier in the Gulf of Oman and that U.S. B-2 bombers hit ballistic missile facilities in Iran with 2,000-pound bombs. CENTCOM said more than 1,000 targets have been struck. Trump additionally claimed U.S. forces had sunk nine Iranian naval vessels and “largely destroyed” Iran’s naval headquarters; CENTCOM did not confirm that claim.
The conflict expanded across the region Sunday. Israel launched fresh strikes inside Iran, and explosions were heard in Tehran. Israeli officials said they were attacking targets tied to Iran’s leadership in Tehran and conducted large-scale operations to seek air superiority and “pave the path to Tehran.” Iranian state media reported that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in strikes on his office; a state broadcaster relayed the news amid tears. Israel said it conducted a “precise, large-scale operation” targeting Khamenei at a central leadership compound.
Iran announced a three-person temporary leadership council to govern under Islamic law until a panel of Shia clerics selects a new supreme leader. A senior White House official told NPR that Trump said potential new Iranian leaders had signaled they want to talk and that he plans to communicate with them in time.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told NPR that 158 students died at an elementary school in Minab in southern Iran and that hospitals in central Tehran were hit; Iranian officials blamed Israel for the school strike. The Israeli military said it was not aware of forces operating in that area. CENTCOM said it was aware of reports of civilian harm, was looking into them, and emphasized that protecting civilians is of utmost importance and that precautions would be taken to minimize unintended harm.
Videos and social-media posts showed large crowds gathering in Tehran’s Enghelab Square and other public places to mark what Iranian state media described as Khamenei’s martyrdom; some clips showed chanting and celebrations, though NPR could not independently verify the material. A Tehran resident who identified herself only as Roxana said some people who had joined past protests celebrated, but she said a friend was later shot by security forces while young people danced, and that the friend avoided hospitals for fear of arrest.
Across the region, security measures tightened and air defenses remained on high alert. In Baghdad, entrances to the Green Zone were blocked and riot police were deployed to prevent militia attempts to breach barricades. Jordan reported air-raid sirens and intercepted missiles.
The Gulf experienced significant disruption. Iran targeted luxury hotels and high-rise apartments believed to house U.S. personnel; videos showed drones striking tall buildings and smoke inside parts of Dubai’s airport as staff evacuated. Iranian attacks damaged Dubai International Airport and the Burj Al Arab hotel and prompted temporary closures at major hubs, including airports in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait.
Tehran vowed a larger wave of attacks on Israel and U.S. bases, threatened commercial shipping and announced it was closing the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian defense ministry said there would be “no mercy or forgiveness” in avenging the leader. Baghaei told NPR Iran will continue to resist “foreign aggression” and framed the conflict as an unjust war imposed on his country, saying Iran had no quarrel with the American people.
In Israel, officials said at least nine people were killed and others wounded in an Iranian missile attack near Jerusalem. OPEC convened to consider raising production to try to blunt a sharp rise in oil prices if Gulf supplies remain threatened.
Trump warned Iran against further retaliation and said any escalation would be met with “a force that has never been seen before.” He told CNBC that military operations were “ahead of schedule” and said the U.S. was acting “not just for us but for the world.”
Daniel Estrin contributed from Tel Aviv. Carrie Kahn contributed from Istanbul.