President Donald Trump has indicated that the current joint military efforts by the United States and Israel against Iran could last “around four weeks,” while also expressing sorrow over the loss of three American service members in the conflict to date.
In a conversation with the Daily Mail on Sunday, Trump remarked, “They’re great people,” acknowledging the sacrifices made by the military. He added, “Unfortunately, we anticipate such situations might arise, and it could happen again.”
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While spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago estate in South Florida, Trump shared in a phone interview with the Daily Mail that the military campaign is “progressing as planned.” He hinted that the operations might conclude within the next month.
“We’ve always anticipated a four-week timeline. We estimate it will take about four weeks. Considering the size and strength of the country, it should take four weeks, or possibly less,” he explained.
âIt’s always been a four week process. We figured it will be four weeks or so. It’s always been about a four week process so – as strong as it is, it’s a big country, it’ll take four weeks, or less,â he said.
The comments came as the US military confirmed three American service members were killed and five were seriously wounded in Operation Epic Fury.
US CENTCOM, which is responsible for overseeing American military efforts in the Middle East and parts of Central Asia, said that major combat operations “continue and our response effort is ongoing.â
Pentagon officials said they were withholding the identities of the soldiers killed in action until 24 hours after their families have been notified.
It was not immediately clear where the service members were killed.
Iran has attacked US bases across the Middle East in response to the strikes that wiped out much of the Iranian leadership â including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Trump told the Daily Mail Iran was seeking talks now. âThey want to, they want to talk, but I said you should have talked last week not this week,â he said.
The president said he had spoken Sunday with leaders in the region including the heads of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan.
Trump said he would meet the families of the slain troops âat the appropriate time.â
