U.S. Central Command announced Sunday that three service members were killed in action during combat operations against Iran, marking the first confirmed American deaths in the escalating conflict. Five others sustained serious wounds, while several more suffered minor shrapnel injuries and concussions and are returning to duty, the command stated.

The fatalities occurred as part of Operation Epic Fury, a joint U.S.-Israeli air, land, and sea campaign launched at 1:15 a.m. Saturday targeting Iran's security apparatus. Strikes hit Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command centers, air defenses, missile sites, airfields, and the compound of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed along with top officials, including the defense minister and armed forces chief of staff.

Iran responded with retaliatory missile and drone barrages at U.S. bases across the Middle East, including Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, Al Udeid in Qatar, Al Dhafra in the United Arab Emirates, bases in Bahrain and Iraq, and Muwaffaq Salti in Jordan. Iranian state media claimed attacks on the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier, but CENTCOM dismissed the reports, stating the missiles "didn’t even come close" and the ship continued operations.

"Major combat operations continue, and our response effort is ongoing," CENTCOM said in its statement. Identities of the fallen service members are being withheld for 24 hours pending next-of-kin notification, and no specific location or cause beyond "killed in action" was disclosed.

President Donald Trump had warned Saturday of possible U.S. losses, stating his administration took steps to minimize risks to personnel. The Pentagon relocated some troops ahead of the strikes.

Iran reported at least 201 killed and over 700 injured, including children in a school strike near Minab. In Israel, nine died in a missile strike on a synagogue in Beit Shemesh. Iran's interim leadership council, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, vowed to crush enemy bases in self-defense.

Israel continued strikes on Tehran on Sunday, targeting IRGC sites, as the conflict entered its second day with no signs of de-escalation.