President Donald Trump yesterday spoke out following the offensive military operations in Iran that resulted in the deaths of three Americans.
Following months of escalating tensions, Trump gave the green light for joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran known as “Operation Epic Fury”. The attacks are said to be targeting Iran’s nuclear program and the Middle Eastern country’s ballistic missiles, though a huge amount of collateral damage is to be expected.
Defending the decision to begin another war on foreign soil, the White House stated that the weekend’s air strikes followed “exhaustive diplomatic efforts and comes after 47 years of Iranian aggression — including attacks on US citizens, sponsorship of global terrorism, and brutal oppression of its own people.”
On Saturday, Trump claimed that the operation had already claimed the life of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The POTUS wrote on Truth Social: “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead.”
At the time of writing, the exact death toll after the air strikes is unknown, but it has been reported that three American service men died.
Trump addressed this as well, warning that these will not be the only fatalities.
In a video message, the POTUS promised that America would ‘avenge’ the deaths of the service members, stating that ‘there will likely be more’ killed before the conflict ends.
Labeling the trio ‘true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, even as we continue the righteous mission for which they gave their lives’,” he said in the video: “Sadly, there will likely be more, before it ends. That’s the way it is. Likely be more.”
According to the Iranian Red Crescent, at least 555 people have been killed across 131 counties since the strikes began.
Meanwhile, several U.S. warplanes are said to have crashed in Kuwait on Monday, but all crew members survived.
A ministry spokesperson revealed that authorities launched search and rescue operations and evacuated the crews to hospitals, adding that they were in stable condition.