The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed this Sunday (1st) the first deaths of American military personnel in the conflict against Iran. According to an update released at 9:30 am (East Coast time), three members of the United States Armed Forces died in combat during Operation Epic Fury, which took place with Israel against the Iranian country.
According to the statement, five other soldiers were seriously injured. In addition, several members suffered minor injuries from shrapnel and concussions and are undergoing medical evaluation and treatment.
The military command did not detail the exact locations of the clashes that resulted in the casualties nor did it disclose the identities of the dead soldiers.
Israel has recorded 9 deaths so far.
Naval confrontation in the Gulf of Oman
In the same update, CENTCOM reported that an Iranian Jamaran-class corvette was hit by American forces at the start of the operation. According to the statement, the ship is sinking in the Gulf of Oman, at a pier in Chah Bahar, a strategic area for navigation and Iranian maritime infrastructure.
The command also reiterated the message attributed to the US president, stating that members of the Iranian Armed Forces, the Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) and the police “must lay down their weapons”.
So far, Iranian authorities have not officially confirmed the loss of the vessel or commented on the American casualties.
New level of the crisis
The confirmation of deaths and injuries among American military personnel marks a significant escalation in the confrontation, which already involved attacks on strategic Iranian installations and retaliations by Tehran against American and Israeli targets.
The expansion of the conflict to the maritime environment raises international alert, especially due to the importance of the Gulf of Oman and routes close to the Strait of Hormuz for global energy trade.
Governments in the region are following developments with concern, given the risk of new direct confrontations and an even greater expansion of the crisis in the Middle East.
