3 US Service Members Killed in Operation Epic Fury — CENTCOM Confirms First American Combat Deaths, Trump Vows to "Avenge" the Fallen

Sunday, March 1, 2026, 4:32 p.m. ET — U.S. Central Command has officially confirmed the first American combat deaths since Operation Epic Fury began Saturday. Three US service members were killed and five seriously wounded as Iranian retaliatory strikes hit US ground forces stationed in Kuwait. President Trump has vowed to avenge their deaths. Here is the complete, breaking update.

CENTCOM Confirms: 3 US Service Members Killed, 5 Seriously Wounded — Kuwait

U.S. Central Command said Sunday 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. A U.S. official not authorized to speak publicly told NPR that the troops who were killed were ground-based forces stationed in Kuwait. "Several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions — and are in the process of being returned to duty," CENTCOM said in a statement. "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."

These are the first confirmed American combat deaths since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Saturday morning.

Trump Vows to "Avenge" Deaths — "We Expect Casualties With Something Like This"

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." Trump separately vowed on Truth Social to avenge the deaths of the three US service members, calling them "courageous American heroes." Trump warned Iran against further retaliation, writing that if Iran escalated, the U.S. would respond with "a force that has never been seen before." Trump also told CNBC that military operations in Iran were "ahead of schedule." "We're doing our job not just for us but for the world. And everything is ahead of schedule," Trump said.

Operation Epic Fury Scope: 1,000+ Targets Struck, Iranian Warship Sinking

U.S. Central Command said Sunday afternoon that it has struck more than 1,000 targets in Iran in two days of operations, including ships, submarines, missile sites, communications links, and the command-and-control centers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Central Command said Sunday it had struck an Iranian Jamaran-class corvette, a small warship, and that the ship was sinking at a pier at an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman. U.S. B-2 stealth bombers, armed with 2,000-lb bombs, struck Iran's ballistic missile facilities on Saturday night.

President Trump said U.S. forces had sunk nine Iranian naval ships and "largely destroyed" Iran's naval headquarters. U.S. Central Command would not confirm the claim. Israel separately announced another wave of strikes Sunday, with Israeli aircraft hunting Iranian mobile missile launchers before their operators could fire. The Israel Defense Force claims that its operations at the onset of Epic Fury — known by Israel as Roaring Lion — was the country's largest aerial operation to date.

Iranian Missiles and Drones Intercepted — 282 Missiles, 833 Drones Shot Down

At least 282 Iranian missiles and 833 drones have been intercepted by Kuwaiti, Qatari, Bahraini and Emirati air defense forces, according to each Gulf State's defense ministry. Despite the interceptions, Iranian strikes have caused significant damage across the Gulf — striking Dubai International Airport, Jebel Ali Port, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain's US Naval Base, and civilian areas across Kuwait and Qatar. Iran on Saturday and Sunday targeted luxury hotels and high-rise apartments believed to house U.S. personnel, with videos of drones striking high-rise buildings dominating social media feeds.

EU Calls for "Maximum Restraint" — Diplomatic Off-Ramp Appears Distant

The European Union called for "maximum restraint" and the protection of civilians in Iran and the Middle East. EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas said: "The Middle East stands to lose greatly from any drawn-out war." Though President Trump said Sunday that he has "agreed to talk" to the new leadership in Iran, the White House played down the prospects of a near-term diplomatic off-ramp. Iran's newly formed three-person interim council — formed following Khamenei's death — has called the killing of the Supreme Leader a "great crime" and shown no indication of standing down militarily.

The identities of the three killed US service members will be withheld by CENTCOM until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified. The nation mourns the first American combat fatalities of Operation Epic Fury.