U.S. President Donald Trump on March 1 vowed to "avenge" the deaths of three U.S. military service members killed in action amid escalating regional conflict across the Middle East.
"As one nation, we grieve for the true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation," Trump said in a video statement posted on Truth Social. "Even as we continue the righteous mission for which they gave their lives, we pray for the full recovery of the wounded and send our immense love and eternal gratitude to the families of the fallen."
It comes after the United States Central Command announced that three U.S. service members were killed in action and five others were seriously wounded during Operation Epic Fury.
The command said several additional troops suffered minor shrapnel wounds and concussions and were being evaluated before returning to duty.
“Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing,” Central Command said in a statement.
In his statement, Trump indicated that additional casualties were expected in the coming days.
He warned that "sadly, there will likely be more before it ends."
"America will avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow to the terrorists who have waged war," Trump said. "Our resolve and likewise that of Israel has never been stronger."
The statement marks the first public comments by the president since the U.S. strike that resulted in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader.
Trump indicated that the resulting war could be prolonged, but pointed to Khamenei's track record as justifying the conflict.
"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 said.
Trump said that U.S. operations in the region had struck "hundreds of targets," including key military targets.
Trump said the United States had "knocked out nine Iranian ships "in a matter of literally minutes."
Military operations, Trump said, will continue "until all of our objectives are achieved."
Trump warned military leadership and members of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard that they would face "certain death" if they refused to surrender in exchange for immunity.
As Iran has launched missile strikes into multiple nations across the region in retaliation for the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, a top national security official in Iran has rejected any negotiations with the United States.
“We will not negotiate with the United States,” Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran Ali Larijani said in a March 2 post on X.
“Trump plunged the region into chaos," Larijani said in another series of posts. "Today, the Iranian nation is defending itself. The armed forces of Iran did not initiate the aggression.”