Three American soldiers have been killed and five others seriously injured during US attacks on Iran, the US military confirmed on Sunday. These are the first officially confirmed American casualties since the latest offensive began, a conflict that has already led to retaliation from Iran.

US Central Command (CENTCOM), which handles American military operations in the Middle East, announced the deaths in a post on X (formerly Twitter), "As of 9:30 am ET, March 1, three U.S. service members have been killed in action and five are seriously wounded as part of Operation Epic Fury. 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."

However, officials did not share details about when or where the incident took place. The identities of the soldiers have not been released, as the military said families must be informed first.

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CENTCOM also stated that several other personnel suffered minor injuries, including shrapnel wounds and concussions. They are expected to recover and return to duty. Officials described the situation as “fluid,” suggesting that developments are ongoing and conditions on the ground may change quickly.

President Donald Trump earlier acknowledged the risks involved in the operation. In a video address released on Saturday, he said, “The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war. But we’re doing this not for now. We’re doing this for the future.” He also indicated that the number of casualties could rise.

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Escalation and retaliation

The current US-Israeli campaign began with strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with other senior officials. In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting US bases in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has warned that it may carry out what it called its “most intense offensive operation” against Israeli and American military targets.

Meanwhile, the US military dismissed Iranian claims that the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier had been hit by ballistic missiles. Officials said the missiles “didn’t even come close.”

With both sides exchanging threats and attacks, tensions in the region remain high, and the possibility of further escalation cannot be ruled out.