The United States on Tuesday (local time) released the names of four of the six service members who have died so far in Washington’s conflict with Iran, as it backed President Donald Trump’s Operation Epic Fury.
Four Army Reserve soldiers were killed Sunday when a drone struck a command center in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, according to a statement from the War Department (formerly the Pentagon).
The deadly drone strike came a day after the US and Israel launched a military campaign against Iran.
Read also | Iran War LIVE: Nearly 2,000 Iranian targets hit, 17 ships sunk, US says
Which US military service members were killed?
All four Army Reservists who were killed were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command in Des Moines, Iowa, which provides food, fuel, water and ammunition, transportation equipment and supplies, the War Department said.
Among those killed were Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Fla.; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minn.; and Spc. Declan J.
“All of these men and women bravely volunteered to defend our country and their sacrifice will never be forgotten,” said US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, according to The Associated Press.
“Unfortunately, there’s probably going to be more before it’s over. That’s the way it is,” Trump said of the deaths.
The names of the two other US service members who were killed have not yet been released.
Read also | Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain News LIVE: UAE says 1,000 attacks intercepted
Family members pay tribute to fallen soldiers
As the identities of the fallen soldiers were confirmed, grieving family members paid their respects.
“You don’t go to Kuwait expecting something to happen, and for her to be one of the first — it hurts,” Joey Amor, the husband of Sergeant Nicole Amor, said Tuesday.
“If you needed anything, she would just take care of it for you. She helped a lot of people in a lot of dark times and brought a lot of light to this world,” Joey said, according to the AP.
Amor was an avid gardener who enjoyed making pepper and tomato salsa in her garden with her son, a high school student. She also enjoyed rollerblading and biking with her fourth-grade daughter, the AP reported.
Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska said he and his wife are mourning Tietjens’ death and are praying for his family.
“May we always remember and honor the sacrifices made by Noah Tietjens and the Tietjens family,” Ricketts said.
Tietjens, a sergeant first class, was married with a son, according to the Facebook page. A photo online shows the couple with their son in martial arts uniform.
Meanwhile, Coady’s LinkedIn page said he was a student at Drake University and an information technology specialist in the Army Reserve.
Through his service, Coady has learned how to “interact with countless different kinds of people from all different backgrounds,” according to his LinkedIn page.
Read also | Flight Status LIVE: Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet will operate 58 flights
American casualties in the Iran conflict
So far, the US military has said that six US service members have died overseas while operating in Iran.
Meanwhile, US Central Command reported that at least five other soldiers were seriously injured in the attacks.
The condition of the injured soldiers remains unclear at this time.
(With input from agencies)
