US-Israel Attacks Iran: Iran Launches Fresh Attacks On Israel, Three US Service Members Killed

Iranian state TV confirms Supreme Leader Khamenei dead; daughter and grandchild also killed in US-Israel strikes

Iranian state television has confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead, in what appears to be the most dramatic escalation yet in the ongoing conflict.

The announcement was followed by claims from Fars News Agency - affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps - that members of Khamenei's family were also killed in the attacks.

Confirmation of Khamenei's death also came from US President Donald Trump, who wrote on Truth Social: "Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS."

First responders said Iranian missile fire killed a woman in Tel Aviv on Saturday, the first confirmed fatality in Israel since attacks began earlier in the day.

"Paramedics have confirmed the death of a woman in her 40s" who had severe injuries, Israel's emergency service Magen David Adom said, after an Iranian missile hit "the Tel Aviv city centre", according to a senior officer in a video shared by the army.

It was the first confirmed death since Iran began launching missiles at Israel in response to a wave of US-Israeli attacks against the Islamic republic early Saturday.

Source: AFP

Flights across the Middle East were cancelled Saturday as several countries closed their airspace after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran.

Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates all announced at least partial closures of their skies in the hours after smoke began rising over Tehran and Iran began retaliatory attacks in the region.

Carriers including Air France, Air India, Turkish Airlines, Norwegian, Air Algerie and Lufthansa announced widespread cancellations.

According to aviation analytics company Cirium, of around 4,218 flights scheduled to land in Middle Eastern countries on Saturday, 966 (22.9 percent) were cancelled, with the figure rising above 1,800 if also including outbound flights.

For Sunday, 716 flights out of 4,329 scheduled to the Middle East have been cancelled, Cirium said.

A concourse at Dubai International Airport (DXB) sustained “minor damage” early on Sunday.

“Four staff sustained injuries and received prompt medical attention,” Dubai Airport said in a statement to CNN.

Most of the terminals were already cleared of passengers as an earlier precautionary measure when the airports were closed on Saturday.

Eyewitnesses have also described to scenes of ambulances rushing toward the airport.

The UAE Ministry of Defense said that although it managed to intercept 195 drones that were launched at the country since the start of Iran’s attack on Saturday, 14 fell within the country’s territories “causing some collateral damage.”

Earlier on Saturday, Dubai Airports issued a statement that said “passengers must not travel to the airport and are advised to contact their airline directly for the latest flight updates.”

The airport is one of the busiest in the world and serves as a major aviation hub in the Middle East.

Source: CNN

The Qatari Ministry of Interior says eight additional injuries have been recorded following the Iranian strikes, bringing the total number of injuries since the onset of the attack to 16.

It said there has also been “limited material damage in various areas”.

Source: Aljazeera

US Ambassador Mike Waltz said that The entire world has witnessed the Iranian regime’s wholesale slaughter of innocent civilians. Its presence in the Security Council makes a mockery of the body. But where the UN lacks moral clarity, President Trump and the United States of America will maintain it.

"The Iranian regime has even attempted to assassinate the U.S. president — President Donald Trump." he said.

Now they are masquerading as a victim. Now we have taken lawful action. 

Iran has reportedly appointed Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi as the new commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to Iranian media, as Tehran signals a major escalation following US-Israeli strikes. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei's death, that have shaken the Iran’s political and military leadership.

The reported appointment comes amid mounting tensions across the Middle East, with Iranian officials warning of large-scale retaliation and state media carrying statements suggesting a widening confrontation involving Israel and American military assets in the region.

Iran has launched a series of missile and drone strikes targeting U.S. military bases across West Asia. The retaliatory attacks came just hours after the United States and Israel carried out a joint military operation earlier in the day.

Amid the rising tensions, residents in conflict-affected regions, particularly in Israel and Iran, have begun taking precautionary measures and moving to safer locations. The Indian embassies in both countries have issued advisories urging citizens to exercise extreme caution, avoid unnecessary travel, and remain indoors as much as possible.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced the launch of “Operation Truthful Promise 4,” reportedly aimed at key U.S. military installations across the Middle East. The strikes are said to have targeted seven American bases located in six countries in the region.

Hundreds of Iraqis attempted early on Sunday (March 1, 2026) to storm Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone, where the U.S. embassy is located, after the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, a security source told.

“Their attempts had been thwarted so far, but they keep trying,” the source said.

Videos shared on social media showed protesters throwing stones at security forces, who responded with tear gas.

Source: AFP

Iran's Supreme National Security Council chief Ali Larijani announced on Sunday, that the transition process has started following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a state TV interview, Larijani confirmed an interim leadership council, composed of the President, the head of the judiciary, and a Guardian Council jurist, will govern until a new supreme leader is chosen. He stated the council could be formed as early as today.

The move comes amid significant uncertainty after Khamenei's reported killing. No further details on the incident or timeline for leadership elections have been released by authorities.

Source: AFP

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah expressed profound anguish on Sunday over the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint strikes by the United States and Israel. In a statement from the party, the former chief minister described the killing as a tragic and destabilising development with serious implications for regional peace and stability.

He said such incidents increase uncertainty and grief, and called for wisdom, restraint, and respect for justice and international law. Abdullah urged calm and asked the administration to allow respectful mourning without fear or undue restrictions, while ensuring public order is maintained.

Source: PTI

Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani warned on Sunday against any attempts to divide the country in the wake of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s killing in joint U.S. and Israeli strikes. Speaking in an interview on state television, Mr Larijani, who heads the Supreme National Security Council, said groups seeking to split Iran would not be tolerated. He called on Iranians to unite at this time.

The statement comes as the country begins a transition process following Khamenei’s death, with an interim leadership council expected to take charge soon. No further details were given on potential threats or specific groups involved.

Source: AFP

Iran’s official IRNA news agency confirmed that Major General Abdul Rahim Mousavi, chief of the general staff of the Armed Forces, and Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh were killed in US-Israeli strikes on Saturday. This adds to the previously confirmed deaths of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his security adviser Ali Shamkhani, and IRGC commander-in-chief Mohammad Pakpour in the same attacks.

IRNA stated that further senior commanders from the armed forces were also killed, with their names to be announced later. The losses severely weaken Iran’s military and political command structure as the country enters a leadership transition period.

Under Article 111 of Iran’s constitution, a temporary council will now handle the duties of the supreme leader following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The council comprises President Masoud Pezeshkian, Supreme Court Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, and a cleric from the Guardian Council, as reported by Iranian media.

This body will carry out leadership responsibilities until the Assembly of Experts formally selects a new supreme leader. The arrangement ensures continuity of governance during the transition period. No timetable has been given for when the Assembly of Experts will convene or complete the selection process.

The Israeli army announced on Sunday that alerts were activated in several areas of the country after missiles were detected launched from Iran. In a statement, the military said the Air Force is currently working to intercept the threats and attack where necessary to eliminate them. It stressed that defence systems are not fully hermetic, and people must continue to follow all instructions from the Home Front Command.

No details were given on the number of missiles, their targets, or any impacts reported so far. The alert follows the recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran that killed its supreme leader and senior military figures.

Israel’s Air Force stated that it dropped more than 1,200 munitions on Iran over the past day as part of its joint operation with the United States. Among the targets hit was an elementary girls’ school in Minab, Hormozgan province, southern Iran, where at least 148 people were reported killed and dozens injured.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said dozens of innocent children were murdered in the school attack, describing it as an act that would not go unanswered. The Israeli military gave no breakdown of specific targets or civilian casualties claimed in its statement.

About 500 Shiite Muslims stormed the US Consulate in Karachi on Sunday, smashing windows, hours after the US and Israeli attack that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Police and paramilitary forces used batons and tear gas to disperse the crowd, according to police official Mohammad Jawad. At least one protester was killed and several others were wounded during clashes with security forces.

No further details were given on damage to the consulate or the current status of the area.

Source: AP

Two people were injured in Dubai when debris from intercepted drones fell into the courtyards of two homes, according to the city’s media office. Authorities stated that the loud sounds heard across the emirate came from successful air defence interception operations. No further details were given on the origin of the drones, the number intercepted, or the extent of the injuries.

The incident follows the recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran that killed its supreme leader and several senior military figures, raising concerns of possible retaliatory actions. Dubai police and emergency services have not released additional information on the response or current situation.

The top political body of Yemen’s Houthis has sent sincere condolences and deepest sympathy to the people of Iran following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a statement, the group described his killing as a heinous crime that violates all international laws and norms. It said the act continues the unjust attack on the Islamic nation. The message comes after US-Israeli strikes killed Khamenei along with several senior military commanders.

The Houthis did not mention any further actions or responses in the statement.

Source: AP

Airspace closures across West Asia following the US-Israeli attack on Iran have disrupted flights and left tens of thousands of travellers stranded. Israel, Qatar, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain closed their airspace completely, while the United Arab Emirates announced a temporary and partial closure. Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 showed no activity over the UAE.

Major hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha shut down, leading to the cancellation of over 1,800 flights by Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad.

Tens of thousands of people, mostly Shiite Muslims, took to the streets across Indian-controlled Kashmir on Sunday to condemn the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by the United States and Israel. Protesters chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” carried portraits of Khamenei, wailed in mourning, and expressed solidarity with Palestinians, vowing never to forget them.

Khamenei had a notable following among Shiite Muslims in the region, with his portraits displayed on several streets. Prominent Kashmiri religious leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq described the killing as brutal and said it has shaken the Muslim world. He called for a protest strike in Kashmir on Monday.

Six people have been killed and several others injured in violent protests outside the US consulate in Karachi, according to Pakistan’s Edhi rescue service.

The deaths occurred after protesters tried to storm the diplomatic mission. Police used force to disperse the crowd, leading to the casualties and injuries.

The incident took place amid ongoing unrest in the area near the consulate.

More than 200 residents have been evacuated from their homes to three hotels in Tel Aviv following Iranian strikes on Saturday, according to a report by Haaretz citing the city municipality.

The Israeli news outlet said at least 40 buildings were damaged in the attack.

Japan's chief cabinet secretary stated on Sunday that Iran must not develop nuclear weapons, adding that Tokyo has long favoured talks between the US and Iran to settle the matter.

Minoru Kihara said: “Iran must stop nuclear weapons development and other actions that destabilise the region.” He avoided any direct endorsement of the recent American strike against Iran.

He noted that Japan attaches importance to stability in the Middle East and to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, and that it will carry on diplomatic efforts together with the international community to ease tensions.

In a separate statement, Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Japan is readying to deploy troops to evacuate the around 200 Japanese citizens who remain in Iran. No timetable or other specifics were given.

Source: AP

Iranian state media has confirmed the deaths of several senior figures in the US-Israeli attacks.

Those killed include:

• Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader

• Ali Shamkhani, security adviser to Khamenei

• General Abdolrahim Mousavi, chief of staff of Iran’s Armed Forces

• Aziz Nasirzadeh, Minister of Defence

• Mohammad Pakpour, commander-in-chief of the IRGC

IRNA reported that more commanders from the armed forces have also been killed, with their names to be announced later.

The Israeli military has stated that it struck “the heart of Tehran” for the first time since the current round of US-Israeli attacks began.

In a statement posted on Telegram, the military said the targets included government sites. It added that over the past day its attacks had focused on establishing aerial superiority and clearing the way to Tehran.

Large plumes of smoke were visible rising from the city.

Iran remained under a near-total internet blackout on Sunday morning, the second day of the conflict with the US and Israel, according to monitoring group NetBlocks.

The group said connectivity has dropped to 1% of normal levels.

Internet access and international phone calls in Iran have often been disrupted since the nationwide anti-government protests that began earlier this year.

Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of Iran’s last shah, has vowed to protect the country and its people and urged citizens to stay cautious and remain in their homes for now.

In a post on X, Pahlavi wrote: “My dear compatriots,

Moments of destiny lie ahead of us. The aid that the President of the United States promised to the brave people of Iran has now arrived. This is a humanitarian intervention; and its target is the Islamic Republic, its repressive apparatus, and its machinery of slaughter—not the country and great nation of Iran.

But, even with the arrival of this aid, the final victory will still be forged by our hands. It is we, the people of Iran, who will finish the job in this final battle. The time to return to the streets is near. Now that the Islamic Republic is collapsing, my message to the country’s military, police, and security forces is clear: You have sworn an oath to protect Iran and the Iranian people—not the Islamic Republic and its leaders. Your duty is to defend the people, not a regime that has taken our homeland hostage through repression and crime.

Join the people and help bring about a stable and secure transition. Otherwise, you will go down with Khamenei’s sinking ship and his regime. And my message to the President of the United States, President Trump, is this: The noble people of Iran, despite the savage repression and massacres of this regime, stood firm with courage for nearly two months. I now ask you to exercise the utmost caution to preserve the lives of civilians and my compatriots.

The people of Iran are your natural allies and those of the free world, and they will never forget your support in the most difficult period in contemporary Iranian history. And to you, my dear compatriots in Iran: In these sensitive hours and days, more than ever, we must stay focused on our ultimate goal: reclaiming Iran.

I ask you to remain in your homes for now and preserve your safety and security. Stay vigilant and ready so that, at the appropriate time—which I will announce to you precisely—you can return to the streets for the final action. Follow my messages through social media and satellite media. If there are disruptions to the internet and satellite, I will stay in touch with you via radio waves. We are very close to final victory. I want to be by your side as soon as possible so that together we can take back and rebuild Iran.

Long live Iran,

Reza Pahlavi.”

Sirens are sounding in wide areas of Tel Aviv and its surroundings, as well as in Jerusalem and parts of the occupied West Bank, the Israeli Home Front Command has reported.

Official Israeli sources also confirmed sirens in Haifa and its bay, Acre, and nearby locations.

Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, has said Iran’s attacks on Gulf states have isolated the country and warned Tehran against targeting its neighbours as the retaliatory campaign enters its second day.

“The Iranian aggression against the Gulf states was a miscalculation and it isolated Iran at a critical juncture. Your war is not with your neighbours,” he said.

“Return to reason, to your surroundings, and deal with your neighbours rationally and responsibly before the circle of isolation and escalation widens.”

The Israeli military’s Home Front Command said on Sunday, that it had called up around 20,000 reservists to help civilians following Iranian missile attacks.

“The command has called in approximately 20,000 reservists” who joined Home Front Command forces across the country over the past 24 hours, it stated on its website.

Source: AFP

Hamas has mourned the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following what it called a “heinous” US-Israeli attack.

In a statement on Sunday, the Palestinian militant group said: “We in Hamas mourn the passing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He provided all forms of political, diplomatic and military support to our people, our cause, and our resistance.”

It added: “The U.S. and the fascist occupation government bear full responsibility for this blatant aggression and heinous crime against the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as for its serious repercussions on the security and stability of the region.”

Source: AFP

Iran’s police intelligence chief, General Gholamreza Rezaian, was killed in US and Israeli strikes on the country, local media reported on Sunday.

“General Gholamreza Rezaian, head of the national police intelligence, was killed following yesterday’s (Saturday) enemy attacks,” Fars news agency reported, along with other outlets.

Source: AFP

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the need to protect the safety, welfare, and safe passage if required of lakhs of Indians working in the Gulf, many of whom are from Kerala.

Mr Vijayan called for a plan of action to evacuate Indians from the conflict-affected region should the security situation worsen further.

He said the Kerala government has set up helplines for citizens and their families abroad to make enquiries and get in touch with each other.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday, criticised the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, describing the targeted assassination of a sovereign nation’s leadership by “so-called leaders of the democratic world” and the deaths of large numbers of innocent people as despicable and deserving strong condemnation.

The Congress general secretary also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying she hopes that after “genuflected” before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, the PM will make every effort to ensure the safe return of all Indian citizens from the affected countries.

Source: PTI

UK Defence Secretary John Healey said on Sunday, that few people will mourn Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the British government’s first public response to the death of Iran’s supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes.

“Iran and the regime he’s led for so long, it’s a source of evil, murdering its own citizens and sponsoring and exporting terror, including to countries like Britain,” Mr Healey told Sky News.

He added that “the concern now, of course, is this regime is lashing out... in an increasingly indiscriminate and widespread way, and people will be really concerned that it’s not just military targets”.

Source: AFP

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday, that avenging the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes is a legitimate duty and right of the Islamic Republic.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran considers it its legitimate duty and right to avenge the perpetrators and masterminds of this historic crime,” Mr Pezeshkian said in a statement carried by state TV.

He also described the assassination as a “declaration of war against Muslims”.

“The assassination of the highest political authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran and a prominent leader of Shiism worldwide... is perceived as an open declaration of war against Muslims, and particularly against Shiites, everywhere in the world,” he added in the same statement.

Source: AFP

Qatar’s Defence Ministry said its air force and air defences intercepted missiles and drones launched from Iran on Sunday. No casualties were reported.

Iran launched the missiles and drones targeting Israel and US military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes.

The US military said there were no American casualties and only minimal damage at its bases.

Source: AP

Kuwait’s air defences repelled a number of hostile aerial targets on Sunday, the country’s Defence Ministry said.

The targets were monitored and intercepted south of the Gulf nation. The ministry did not report any casualties or damage.

Iran launched the attacks on US military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes.

Source: AP

Bahrain intercepted a wave of missiles and drones launched by Iran on Sunday, according to state media.

The Bahrain News Agency, citing authorities, said limited debris fell in several areas but gave no further details.

On Saturday, Bahrain reported that a missile attack targeted the US Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters in the country, with three buildings damaged in the capital, Manama.

Source: AP

The death toll from clashes between Pakistani police and protesters who stormed the US Consulate compound in Karachi has risen to nine.

The Shiite protesters were angered by the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in US and Israeli strikes. Police said the protest, which took place on Sunday, was later dispersed.

Source: AP

Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani said on Sunday, 1 March 2026, that the country will strike the US and Israel with a force never experienced before, in response to their attacks on Iran that killed the supreme leader.

“Yesterday Iran fired missiles at the United States and Israel, and they did hurt. Today we Will hit them with a force that they have never experienced before,” Mr Larijani wrote in a post on X in all capital letters.

Source: AFP

Ayatollah Arafi is set to succeed Ayatollah Khamenei as Iran's Supreme Leader. ⁠Arafi is a religious leader on the Guardian Council.

Ayatollah Arafi will ⁠⁠temporarily be in leadership council alongside President Pezeshkian ‌and Supreme Court Chief Justice Mohseni-Ejei.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a statement, saying that the army is “carrying out intensive strikes targeting sites belonging to the Iranian regime”.

“We will organise a continuous air bridge to carry out a powerful attack on targets in Tehran,” he wrote on X.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called Supreme Leader Khamenei's killing a cynical murder, according to Russian news agency TASS.

Calling it a violation of all standards of human morality and international law, he also expressed condolences over the killing of the Supreme Leader.

-Al Jazeera

In an advisory, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations has stated that it is aware of "significant military activity" in the “Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, North Arabian Sea and the Strait of Hormuz”.

It added that mariners should be aware of the increased risk of miscalculation or misidentification, particularly in proximity to military units and other sensitive maritime facilities and infrastructure.

Israel military has said that it is not aware of an attack on Minab school that Iran claims killed at least 108.

"At this point not aware of an Israeli or an American strike there... We’re operating in an extremely accurate manner," military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said.

While speaking during his weekly address to ‌pilgrims in St Peter’s Square, Pope Lea appealed to "to the parties involved to assume the moral responsibility to stop the spiral of violence before it becomes ⁠an irreparable abyss.”

He added that stability and peace are not built through mutual ⁠threats or through weapons but through reasonable, ⁠genuine, and responsible dialogue.

Two Iranian F-5 and F-4 fighter jets at Tabriz Shahid Madani International Airport in western Iran were struck as they were being prepared for takeoff, IDF posted on X.

The strike was carried out to degrade the Iranian Air Force’s activities and to further expand the degradation of their aerial defense, weakening Tehran’s ability to project air power and defend its airspace.

New explosions heard in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.

-Al Jazeera

AFP correspondents and residents reported fresh explosions in the Gulf cities of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Manama on Sunday as Iran pressed on with its retaliatory campaign for a second consecutive day following US and Israeli strikes that killed its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

German carrier Lufthansa has suspended flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil and Tehran until at least March 8 amid ongoing regional tensions and widespread airspace closures following the US–Israel strikes on Iran.

-Al Jazeera

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry says it has summoned the Iranian ambassador after the kingdom accused Tehran of targeting its territory with strikes.

“Foreign Ministry summons the Iranian ambassador to the Kingdom in response to Iran’s brazen attacks that targeted the Kingdom and a number of brotherly countries,” the ministry said in a statement on X.

The death toll from people killed in an Iranian ballistic missile in Israel’s Beit Shmesh city has now risen to 8, Israeli emergency services has said.

At least 27 people were injured, including two in serious condition.

- Al Jazeera.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran has told Al Jazeera that the country has “begun a constitutional process, and the Transitional Council was established today and will work to manage affairs.”

He said that the killing of the supreme leader is “a very serious and unprecedented act and a blatant violation of international law.”

"The killing of the supreme leader will make the confrontation more complex and dangerous," he told Al Jazeera.

Foreign Minister Araghchi hinted at potential selection of a supreme leader within days. Iran’s FM Abbas Araghchi has said that state institutions in Iran “are in place” and that the country “has constitutional procedures in place.”

“You may see the selection of a supreme leader in a day or two.”

The US Central Command says its forces have struck an Iranian vessel at the beginning of its military operation against Iran.

The Jamaran-class corvette “is currently sinking to the bottom of the Gulf of Oman at a Chah Bahar pier,” CENTCOM said, referring to a location in southern Iran.

Three US service members have been killed in action, the US Central Command (Centcom) says. They are the first known American fatalities since the US began striking Iran on Saturday.

Five others have been "seriously wounded", the US military says. The names of the three fallen service members will not be released until 24 hours after their families have been notified, Centcom adds.

In announcing the US operation against Iran, President Trump warned that "the lives of American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war".