Three US soldiers killed after Iran retaliates for assassination of Ayatollah

This image provided by U.S. Central Command shows the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) firing a Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) in support of Operation Epic Fury, on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (U.S. Navy via AP)
The US amassed an ‘armada’ of military assets in the Gulf before unleashing Operation Epic Fury on Saturday (Picture: AP)

Three US soldiers have been killed in action and five more seriously wounded as part of Operation Epic Fury, the US military has confirmed.

US Central Command said that several other service personnel had sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions.

It is not clear how the troops were killed, but Iran has furiously launched drones and missiles at US bases throughout the Middle East following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Donald Trump warned in his Saturday morning address that US troops might be killed during the unprecedented military action against Iran

A black plume of smoke rises from a warehouse in the industrial area of Sharjah City, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, March 1, 2026, following reports of Iranian strikes in Dubai.(AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Iran has been firing waves of missiles and drones towards its neighbours (Picture: AP)
A drone view of the scene of a fatal Iranian strike, after Iran launched missile barrages following attacks by the U.S. and Israel on Saturday, in Beit Shemesh, Israel March 1, 2026. REUTERS/Ilan Rosenberg
A drone view of the scene of a fatal Iranian strike in Beit Shemesh, Israel (Picture: REUTERS)

US CENTCOM said in a statement on X: ‘As of 9:30 am ET, March 1, three U.S. service members have been killed in action and five are seriously wounded as part of Operation Epic Fury.

‘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.

‘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.’

ANKARA, TURKIYE - MARCH 1: An infographic titled "Attacks between the US??"Israel and Iran" created in Ankara, Turkiye on March 1, 2026. (Photo by Kadri Suat Celik/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The Middle East has been hit by a wave of strikes (Picture: Kadri Suat Celik/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The announcement comes after Iran unleashed a third wave of missile and drone attacks towards its neighbours in the Middle East.

Suicide drones hit Dubai and Bahrain this afternoon, while nine people were killed in a missile strike in the city of Beit Shemesh, central Israel.

The US and Israel have also pounded Iran capital, Tehran, on Sunday, hitting a major hub for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The Army hospital and several bases of the Basij militia were also hit, according to the official Fars news agency.

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