Photo: Alamy
President Donald Trump said that he would “avenge” the deaths of the three U.S. service members who were killed in action amid the U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran.
The president maintained that U.S. military operations would continue in Iran “until all of our objectives are achieved,” but warned that the U.S. would likely experience more casualties.
“As one nation, we grieve for the true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation,” President Trump said a video posted Sunday to Truth Social. “Sadly, there will likely be more.”
“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,” he continued.
“America will avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow to the terrorists who have waged war,” President Trump said. “Our resolve and likewise that of Israel has never been stronger.”
He also confirmed that American forces have already struck “hundreds of targets” inside Iran, including its Revolutionary Guard facilities, air defense systems, and naval resources. Nine Iranian ships were also “knocked out” within minutes.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and many other senior Iranian officials were also killed in Saturday’s strikes.
“The entire military command is gone as well and many of them want to surrender,” said the president. “Combat operations continue at this time in full force and will continue until all of our objectives are achieved.”
He continued, “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.”
The United States and Israel launched major aerial strikes against Iran on Saturday after negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions failed, RSBN reported.
Calling Iran the “world’s number-one state sponsor of terror,” the president maintained that this terrorist regime could “never have a nuclear weapon,” a promise for which he has been consistently adamant.
Last June, the U.S. carried out “Operation Midnight Hammer” and destroyed Iran’s nuclear facilities. The U.S. then urged Iran to cease all future development of nuclear weapons, but the regime ultimately refused and continued development.
The president insinuated that because Iran would likely use nuclear missiles against the U.S. and European allies if it had the ability, the U.S. would continue to “obliterate” them.
Since Saturday’s attacks, Tehran has pledged to retaliate. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the regime would be avenging Khamenei’s death, calling it a “legitimate duty and right,” and that Tehran would “forcefully crush the enemy’s bases,” Fox News reported.
Iran has since launched drone and missile strikes against U.S. bases in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq, but has reportedly not successfully targeted American carriers.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military is spread out across the Persian Gulf, with two aircraft carrier strike groups — the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford — each with guided-missile destroyers and cruisers and capable of sustained air and missile operations, the network reported.
Over a dozen U.S. warships are also operating in the region.