US President Donald Trump has warned there will likely be more deaths in the battle against Iran after three US service members were killed and five seriously wounded in the first days of Operation Epic Fury.
In a speech late Sunday, Trump mourned the soldiers and added, “Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends, that’s the way it is.” He added, “But America will avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow to the terrorists who have waged war against, basically, civilization.”
Trump said the US-Israeli joint operation hit hundreds of targets across Iran, with combat operations slated to continue until all of the US’ objectives are met.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in an Israeli airstrike Saturday, leading to an onslaught of Iranian revenge strikes against Israel and countries in the Middle East.
Trump said 48 Iranian leaders had been killed and nine Iranian warships destroyed so far in a conflict that he said could last for four weeks.
