3 US troops killed, 5 'seriously wounded' in Iran operation: Central Command

By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - Three US service members have been killed and five "seriously wounded" since the start of US-Israeli joint attacks against Iran, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Sunday.

"Several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions and are in the process of being returned to duty," it said, adding "major combat operations continue" and the response effort was ongoing.

The identities of those killed would be withheld for 24 hours after the next of kin are notified.

The casualties were announced as the US-Israeli joint operation against Iran entered its second day.

The strikes, launched Saturday, killed several senior Iranian officials, including supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting several Gulf countries, mainly targeting US military bases in the region.