US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the US would “avenge” the deaths of three US service members who were killed during the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran. He vowed to continue the bombing until “we have achieved all our objectives”, warning that more casualties were likely.
“America will avenge their deaths and deal the most punishing blow to the terrorists who waged a war essentially against civilization,” Trump said in a video statement to Truth Social.
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In the roughly six-minute video, Trump said, “Combat operations are continuing in full force at this time and will continue until all of our objectives are achieved.”
Trump’s remarks suggest a potentially longer US engagement in Iran than other recent military operations.
Three US soldiers killed, ‘likely more dead’
Earlier on Sunday, U.S. Central Command confirmed the first U.S. casualties during hostilities, saying three U.S. service members were killed.
“As one nation, we mourn the true American patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation as we continue the righteous mission for which they gave their lives,” Trump said in the video, warning that more casualties could be expected.
“We pray for the full recovery of those injured and send our immense love and eternal gratitude to the families of the fallen, and unfortunately there will likely be more before this is over,” Trump said.
“It is. It’s probably going to be more, but we’re going to do everything we can if it’s not,” Trump said.
In a telephone interview with the Daily Mail on Sunday, Trump said the US soldiers killed were “great people”.
“You know, we expect that to happen, unfortunately,” Trump told the newspaper. “It can happen continuously – it can happen again.”
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He reportedly said he believed the conflict could last “about four weeks”. He had previously warned that US soldiers could be killed or injured in the operation.
“The lives of brave American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties,” the Republican president said in a video address released early Saturday morning. “That happens a lot in war. But we’re not doing it now. We’re doing it for the future.”
Earlier on Sunday, he told CNBC’s Joe Kernen that U.S. military operations in Iran were “ahead of time.”
The American-Israeli, Iranian conflict
The conflict began on February 28, when Israel and the US launched a joint attack on Iran. The Islamic Republic retaliated by striking US embassies in the Middle East and parts of Israel.
US-Israeli strikes kill Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other leaders. Iranian counterattacks hit US bases in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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The US military has denied Iranian claims that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln was hit by ballistic missiles, saying on X that “the missiles fired didn’t even come close.”
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guards have threatened to launch their “most intensive offensive operation” ever targeting Israeli and US military installations.
