6 U.S. service members killed in Iranian strike in Kuwait, Pentagon says
Six American service members have been killed and four others have been seriously wounded during Operation Epic Fury, the joint U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran, U.S. Central Command said Monday.
“U.S. forces recently recovered the remains of two previously unaccounted for service members from a facility that was struck during Iran’s initial attacks in the region,” CENTCOM said. “Major combat operations continue.”
CENTCOM had said Sunday that three service members were killed and announced earlier Monday that another had died of their injuries.
“The fourth service member, who was seriously wounded during Iran’s initial attacks, eventually succumbed to their injuries,” CENTCOM said in an earlier post on social media.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday that it happened when an incoming munition hit a tactical operations center in Kuwait.
The military said the identities of the fallen would be withheld for 24 hours so next of kin can be notified.
Meanwhile, 18 U.S. service members have been seriously wounded in Operation Epic Fury as of Monday morning, according to CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins.
In a video message Sunday night, Mr. Trump said he expects there to be more American casualties, but combat operations “will continue until all of our objectives are achieved.”
“We pray for the full recovery of the wounded and send our immense love and eternal gratitude to the families of the fallen,” he said. “And sadly, there will likely be more before it ends. That’s the way it is.”
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee offered his condolences to the service members killed and the others injured, saying on X: “May their memory be a blessing.”
CBS News has reached out to the White House for additional comments.
The U.S. and Israel launched a massive military operation early Saturday in Iran, including striking Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s compound in Tehran and killing him. The Israel Defense Forces said Saturday that other Iranian officials and commanders were also killed, including an adviser to Khamenei.
Iran’s military launched retaliatory strikes on Israel as well as other U.S.-allied nations in the Middle East. Earlier Sunday, Israeli medics said at least eight people were killed in a missile strike in Beit Shemesh, near Jerusalem.
In a video posted to social media on Saturday, Mr. Trump said his administration had taken “every possible step to minimize the risk to U.S. personnel.”
“The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties, that often happens in war,” Mr. Trump said. “We’re doing this, not for now, we’re doing this for the future, and it is a noble mission.”
