Three U.S. service members while three 48 Iranian security officials were killed in a joint US-Israel military operation against Iran after Iran failed to sign an agreement not to produce nuclear weapons.
U.S. Central Command on Sunday announced three US service members were killed, five are seriously wounded while several others sustained minor injuries during the “Operation Epic Fury” military operation.
The war has widened to the Persian Gulf in retaliation against the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the operation on Saturday.
Iranian state media confirmed that the 86-year-old leader had been killed after initially denying reports of his death.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the strikes on Iran were aimed at ending a security threat.
“This wretched and vile man had the blood of hundreds and even thousands of Americans on his hands and was responsible for the slaughter of countless thousands of innocent people all across many countries.”
Trump added that Iran “will never have a nuclear weapon.”
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “For three and a half decades, this tyrant dispatched terrorism across the world, made his own people miserable, and worked constantly and tirelessly on a programme to annihilate the state of Israel. That plan is there no longer.”
During the U.N. emergency meeting held on the strikes against Iran, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon called out the threats by the Iranian leadership for nearly five decades.
Danon confronted Iranian Ambassador to the U.N. Amir Saeid Iravani, saying “for 47 years—your leaders have been chanting it for years in public events, in your parliament—death to Israel, death to America.”
Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin confirmed that 48 members of the Iranian security forces, including the Chief of Staff of the armed forces Abdolrahim Mousavi, 7 members of the top Iranian security leadership and 40 senior commanders.
“In the opening strike of the operation, the IDF eliminated 40 commanders and seniors from the Iranian regime in one minute.”
“During the night, we continued and intensified the strikes across Iran. We are paving the way to the heart of Iran, up to the city of Tehran,” Brig. Defrin said.
“We attacked the Iranian defence systems and expanded the air superiority of the Air Force in the skies above Iran. So far, we have thwarted dozens of missile launchers that were ready to be fired toward Israel’s home front,” he added.
The IDF posted video footage showing the destruction of the regime’s headquarters in Tehran.
The U.S. is targeting the Iranian military targets such as command and control infrastructure throughout Iran and not civilian infrastructure.
U.S. Central Command also released videos showing U.S. military assets deployed throughout this operation showing strikes on Iranian radar stations and drone sites.
Trump called on Iranian security forces to “lay down your weapons and have complete immunity” in a video message addressed to members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), armed forces, and police.
He added that if they do not surrender, they would “face certain death.”
Several world leaders have come out in support of the operation, calling on the regime to lay down their arms.
“Iran can end this now. They should refrain from further strikes, give up their weapons programmes, and cease the appalling violence and repression against the Iranian people,” said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “We support the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran from continuing to threaten international peace and security.”
Trump also invited the Iranian people to topple their government once the bombing ends.
“When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations,’ he said.
Tehran promised a stronger response to come.
Israel officials said the death toll from strikes on central Israel has risen to six while eight more people are confirmed dead in a direct missile strike near Jerusalem.
Persian Gulf Nations Respond to Iran’s Attacks
Nations in the Persian Gulf are responding to Iran’s attacks on civilian targets after several people were reportedly killed.
Tehran fired missiles at Israel and at the U.S. bases located in several Gulf allies as well as attacking civilian sites in response to the attacks from the U.S. and Israel.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) recorded three deaths following Iranian attacks.
Loud booms sounded in Abu Dhabi while several blasts were heard in its business capital, Dubai, where one of the city’s plush hotel districts was also hit.
Dubai’s media office said debris from intercepted drones landed in the courtyards of two homes and injured two people.
Attacks were also reported by Qatar, killing at least 16 people.
Foreign ministers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait put out a joint statement today following a virtual meeting that they reviewed the damages caused by “the treacherous Iranian attacks on these countries.”
They also said the attacks “targeted civilian facilities, service sites, and residential areas causing significant material damage, threatening the safety and lives of citizens and residents, and spreading fear among the population.”
They condemned the heinous Iranian attacks on their territories and added that they have ”the legal right to respond.”
Israel Strikes Iranian Proxy Hezbollah
The IDF said Israeli armed forces are striking targets of Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy, across Lebanon.
The strikes came after Hezbollah claimed responsibility for attacks on Israel, saying it is targeting an Israeli base in Haifa and calling it an act of retaliation after Israel killed Iran’s supreme leader.
The IDF said that Israel intercepted a projectile that had been launched at Israel from Lebanon.
Several others landed in open areas with no apparent injuries or damages being reported.
Israel sounded sirens which sent people rushing to shelter.
The projectile marked the first rocket fired by Hezbollah since November 2024 when Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire.
