U.S. military says three of its troops killed in first Iran operation casualties

Three U.S. troops killed and five injured in first Iran operation, marking a significant escalation in military conflict.

Three U.S. service members have ​been killed and another five have been seriously wounded, in ‌the first casualties of the unfolding U.S. operations against ​Iran, the U.S. military said on ⁠Sunday (March 1, 2026). The casualties were announced on the second day of strikes by the U.S. and Israel against Iran, which have plunged the ‌Middle East into a new, unpredictable conflict that has already led to the death of Iran’s Supreme ‌Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

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The U.S. military’s Central Command ‌said ⁠in a statement on Sunday (March 1, 2026) that U.S. troops ⁠suffered additional, less serious injuries as well.

“Several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions - and are in the process of being returned to ​duty. Major combat operations continue ‌and our response effort is ongoing,” Central Command said in a statement on X.

It declined to offer specifics of how the U.S. forces were killed and wounded, ‌but Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have launched blistering rounds of ​drones and missiles at targets throughout West Asia.

On Sunday (March 1, 2026) morning, Iran said it had ⁠launched an attack on the U.S. aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln with four ballistic missiles, state media reported. Central Command said the ‌ship was not hit and that Iran’s missiles didn’t come close.