The US said three service members were killed as its military and Israel continued their bombardment of Iran, which led to the death of the country’s supreme leader on Saturday.
In a post to X on Sunday, US Central Command said three service members were “killed in action” and five were seriously wounded.
“Many suffered minor shrapnel wounds and concussions — and are in the process of returning to duty,” US Central Command wrote. “Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing.”
The U.S. casualties were the first of what was dubbed Operation Epic Fury, which saw the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His death was first announced by US President Donald Trump and later confirmed by state media.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezheshkin said in a pre-recorded message that the leadership council had “started its work” to find a new leader.
Iran is targeting various Middle Eastern countries
The selection of the new supreme leader came 24 hours after Trump said on Truth Social that the purpose of the “massive” operation was to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to “remove imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”
Trump called on Iranians to “take over your government,” saying it’s “maybe your only chance for a generation.”
The first strikes by the US and Israel began on Saturday morning and targeted areas in downtown Tehran, including locations associated with Iran’s leadership.
In response, Tehran launched missiles at Israel and several countries in the Middle East, including Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.
Shrapnel from an Iranian attack on Abu Dhabi left two people dead, with debris from aerial strikes causing fire in the city’s main port and in front of the Burj Al Arab hotel, UAE state media reported.
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Saudi Arabia confirmed the attacks on its capital Riyadh and its eastern region, but said it had been successfully repelled.
World leaders react to strikes
Several world leaders and ministers have spoken out in response to Iran’s attacks on various countries in the Middle East, stressing solidarity amid the strikes.
“We stand in full solidarity with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan following yesterday’s Iranian strikes,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on X. “With Khamenei gone, there is new hope for the people of Iran.
“At the same time, this moment carries a real risk of instability that could push the region into a spiral of violence.”
Van der Leyen said the European Union was working with “key actors” and regional partners to ensure stability and security and protect civilian life.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand echoed van der Leyen’s remarks, posting on X condemning strikes on countries including Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
“Canada will continue to work with allies and partners to support stability and strengthen collective security,” Anand wrote.
Prime Minister Mark Carney on Saturday called for the protection of civilians as fighting escalated.
Strikes on Iran to continue: Israel
Tehran vowed revenge on Sunday.
“You have crossed our red line and must pay the price,” Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a televised address on Sunday. “We deliver such devastating blows that you are driven to beg yourself.”
The US president said in a Truth Social post that any retaliation would be further escalated.
“Better not do it,” Trump fired back in a social media post. “If they do, we will hit them with a force never seen before!”
Later on Sunday, Trump claimed on Truth Social that he had been informed that Iran’s naval headquarters had been “destroyed” and that nine Iranian naval vessels had been “destroyed and sunk”.
“We’re going after the rest – they’ll soon be floating to the bottom of the sea!” Trump wrote.
Global News has not independently confirmed the status of Iran’s ships or naval headquarters.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday his country would have a “non-stop air train” of strikes against military and leadership targets in Iran.
Trump said heavy bombing would continue “uninterrupted throughout the week or as long as needed.”
–With files from Global News’ Prisha Dev, Uday Rana, Aaron D’Andrea, Rachel Goodman and The Associated Press
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
(tags to translate)Iran(T)Ayatollah Ali Khamenei(T)Canada(T)US News(T)World
