In a recent escalation of hostilities with Iran, three American service members have lost their lives, marking a somber development in President Donald Trump’s confrontation with the nation.

The announcement came from the US Central Command on Sunday morning, following a series of lethal strikes ordered by Trump, which specifically targeted key Iranian figures.

According to a statement on X by US Central Command, “Several other service members suffered minor injuries from shrapnel and concussions, and they are currently being prepared to return to duty. The major combat operations are still ongoing, and our response efforts are actively continuing.”

US Central Command further stated, “Given the fluid situation, we will refrain from releasing further details, including the names of our fallen soldiers, until 24 hours after their families have been informed, out of respect for their privacy.”

A US official, speaking to media outlets, indicated that the conflict with Iran could extend over several weeks. However, President Trump has not outlined a specific timeline, although he assured CNBC on Sunday that the military operations against Iran are “ahead of schedule.”

In retaliation for the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Tehran has launched a series of attacks targeting US military installations throughout the Middle East.

This morning Iran raised its so-called ‘Red Flag of Revenge’ and vowed to hit the US and Israel with a ‘force never experienced before’. 

Trump addressed the American people on camera from his Mar-a-Lago estate shortly after the military strikes began on Saturday morning. 

The president warned that US troops could lose their lives in the operation, adding that ‘we may have casualties.’

Three Americans troops are dead in the war started by Donald Trump against Iran

Donald Trump monitoring the military operation against Iran from Mar-a-Lago

Following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Tehran has responded by launching a barrage of attacks against US military bases across the Middle East

The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for comment.  

Trump’s previous military strikes against Iran have been brief operations designed to not entangle the US in a prolonged regime change war with Tehran.

However, Saturday’s attack marks the first time Trump has unleashed America’s firepower in the Middle East with the goal of ending a country’s government.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed to have attacked a US aircraft carrier in revenge for the killing of the country’s Supreme Leader, as it launches drone attacks across the Middle East today.

State media carried a statement claiming the USS Abraham Lincoln had been attacked with ‘four ballistic missiles’. The Pentagon later denied the Lincoln had been hit but said missiles had been fired that ‘did not even come close’.

Iran has also retaliated with a series of strikes across its neighboring Gulf states, with explosions heard in Qatar, Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Trump promised to strike Iran ‘with a force that has never been seen before,’ after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced they had attacked nearly 30 US military bases across the Middle East on Sunday morning.

It was revealed today that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has also been killed in airstrikes, according to Israeli state TV.

Black smoke was seen rising from a US airbase at Erbil International Airport in northern Iraq at sunrise, after the IRGC promised their most ferocious counterattack.

It is unclear how many civilians have been killed by Iran’s revenge strikes 

Israel announced in the early hours of Sunday that it had begun a new ‘strike wave’ targeting Iran’s ballistic missiles and aerial defense systems, after Iran launched drones and missiles at Tel Aviv, which were intercepted and shot down.

In response, the IRGC said it was carrying out a ‘sixth wave’ of ‘extensive missile and drone’ attacks on 27 US military bases. The extent of the damage is not yet clear.

It comes as Iran formally confirmed that Khamenei was killed in his home office. ‘To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return,’ an Iranian news agency said.

Two high-level military leaders – Rear Adm. Ali Shamkhani, and commander of the IRGC Maj. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour – and four of Khamenei’s close family were also obliterated in the Tehran strikes on Saturday morning.