--- title: "6 US troops killed, others wounded in operations against Iran" description: "A total of six U.S. service members have been confirmed killed since the start of U.S. military operations against Iran, officials said." date: "2026-03-01" modified: "2026-03-02" authors: - name: "Jeff Schogol" job_title: "Senior Pentagon Reporter" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/jeff-schogol.md" - name: "Patty Nieberg" job_title: "Senior Reporter" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/patty-nieberg.md" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/casualties-operation-epic-fury/" categories: - "News" tags: - "adsafety" --- # 6 US troops killed, others wounded in operations against Iran ![An EA-18G Growler, attached to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133, prepares to launch from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Epic Fury, March 1, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo)]() *An EA-18G Growler, attached to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133, prepares to launch from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in support of Operation Epic Fury, March 1, 2026. Navy photo.* Six American service members were killed, and others were “seriously wounded” during U.S. military operations against Iran, U.S. Central Command officials said. The deaths of [three service members]() were initially announced over the weekend, but CENTCOM officials confirmed on Monday that a fourth who had been “seriously wounded during Iran’s initial attacks" had died. Later, [CENTCOM announced ]() that "U.S. forces recently recovered the remains of two previously unaccounted for service members from a facility that was struck during Iran's initial attacks in the region." Additionally, an official with U.S. Central Command told Task & Purpose that 18 U.S. troops had been seriously wounded as of 7:30 a.m. ET on Monday. The Command's initial post on [Sunday]() said that five had been “seriously wounded” and “several” other troops “sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions,” but were in the process of being returned to duty. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Monday at the Pentagon that the casualties were the result of an Iranian weapon hitting an American tactical operation center. He did not specify the location of the fatal strikes, though [other publications]() have reported it was in Kuwait. “You have air defenses and lots coming in, and you hit most of it, and we absolutely do. We have incredible air defenders. Every once in a while, you might have one — unfortunately, we call it a squirter — that makes its way through,” he said. “In that particular case, happened to hit a tactical operation center that was fortified. But these are powerful weapons.” “Operations will remain active across the theater and across the globe,” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said at a Pentagon briefing Monday morning. U.S. and Israeli forces began [extensive air and missile strikes against Iran ]()on Saturday. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei was killed in airstrikes, President Donald Trump [announced]() late Saturday afternoon. https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/2027919256709423376?s=20 The U.S. operation, named Epic Fury, began around 1:15 a.m., Eastern Time, on Saturday, and it involved launching [one-way attack drones]() and missiles at targets inside Iran, [according to CENTCOM](), which has released videos showing U.S. Navy ships firing Tomahawk cruise missiles and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, launching [Army Tactical Missile System rockets, or ATACMS](), which have a range of up to 186 miles. On Sunday, CENTCOM announced that U.S. forces had [sunk an Iranian frigate](), and the command disputed Iranian claims that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln had been struck by four ballistic missiles. “The Lincoln was not hit,” [CENTCOM posted on X](). “The missiles launched didn’t even come close.” ***UPDATE: 3/2/2026;*** *This article has been updated with information from U.S. Central Command about those seriously injured and killed during operations that took place over the weekend.* ## Author Jeff Schogol is the former senior Pentagon reporter for Task & Purpose. He reported on both the Department of Defense as a whole and individual services, covering a variety of topics that include personnel, policy, military justice, deployments, and technology. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]() [Twitter]()