United States Central Command as admitted that three American service members were killed and five others were seriously wounded during Operation Epic Fury, the joint U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran.
“Several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions — and are in the process of being returned to duty,” CENTCOM said in a post on social media.
CBS News has learned that the three casualties occurred among American personnel based in Kuwait.
The military’s initial statement did not give other details about the circumstances.
“Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing. The situation is fluid, so out of respect for the families, we will withhold additional information, including the identities of our fallen warriors, until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified,” the statement said.
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President Trump told NBC News on Sunday that “we expect casualties with something like this,” adding that “but in the end it’s going to be a great deal for the world.”
“They’re great people,” Mr. Trump told The Daily Mail Sunday of the American service members. “And, you know, we expect that to happen, unfortunately. Could happen continuous — it could happen again.” The president also said the three had “outstanding records.”
In Israel, nine persons were killed and 27 others injured in an Iranian missile strike that directly hit a building in Beit Shemesh in west Jerusalem on Sunday, local media reported.
The daily Yedioth Ahronoth, citing Israel’s ambulance service MDA, said the injured include four people who sustained critical injuries in the attack.
The emergency service added that several people remain missing as search and rescue operations continue at the site.
Beit Shemesh Mayor Shmuel Greenberg said that there are 20 residents that have not been able to be reached, according to The Times of Israel news portal.
He, however, stressed that “it does not necessarily mean anything happened to them.”
The U.S. and Israel launched an attack on Iran on Saturday, killing several top Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Tehran retaliated with a series of drone and missile attacks.
Israel and the U.S. launched a similar attack on Iran last June, triggering a 12-day war before a ceasefire was announced.
CBS/NAN
