Pentagon warns of ‘brave’ war in Iran as Trump refuses to rule out troops on the ground

“We expect to suffer additional losses and, as always, we will work to minimize US losses,” he added.

US President Donald Trump has estimated that the current operation could last about four weeks.

US soldier death toll rises

Secretary of War and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth was asked about Sunday’s incident in which American soldiers had been killed. That number increased to four on Monday when one more soldier succumbed to injuries.

CENTCOM Update

TAMPA, Fla. – As of 7:30 a.m. ET on March 2, four U.S. service members had been killed in combat. The fourth service member, who was seriously injured during Iran’s initial attacks, eventually succumbed to his injuries.

Major combat operations continue and our…

— US Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 2, 2026

“We have incredible air defenses… Every once in a while, you might have one (unfortunately, we call it a squirter) that makes it through. And in that particular case, it hit a tactical operations center that was fortified, but these are powerful weapons.

“In times like that, when we remember them and take care of them and take care of their families, it only strengthens our resolve to make sure we do it right,” Hegseth said.

Three F-15s shot down by Kuwaiti friendly fire

Monday also saw three US F-15 aircraft shot down by Kuwaiti air defense systems in a reported case of friendly fire. According to the latest update, the six staff members safely evacuated were undergoing medical checks.

“The cause of the incident is under investigation. Additional information will be released as it becomes available,” US CENTCOM said in a statement.

Trump does not rule out the possibility of sending troops to Iran

Hours after the Pentagon briefing with the New York Post, Trump refused to rule out the presence of troops on the ground in Iran.

“I have no problem with troops on the ground, as every president says, ‘There will be no troops on the ground.’ I’m not saying that,” Trump said Monday.

“I say ‘you probably don’t need them’ (or) ‘if they were necessary’.”

In the Pentagon briefing, Hegseth had stressed that Iran’s operation had a “clear, devastating and decisive mission” to “destroy the missile threat” from Iran, destroy its navy and “get nuclear free.”

“This is not Iraq. This is not endless,” he said. “This is not a so-called war of regime change, but the regime certainly changed and the world is better off for it,” Hegseth said.