Trump warns some Americans may die amid strikes in Iran
President Donald Trump said that the United States had started “major combat operations” in Iran and warned that there could be American casualties.
The attacks, which Trump said were aimed at destroying Iranian missiles and destroying its navy, followed repeated US-Israeli warnings that they would strike Iran again if it continued its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
“My administration has taken every step possible to minimize the risk to US personnel in the region. Even so, and I do not make this statement lightly, Iran is trying to kill the regime,” Trump said in a video shared on Truth Social. he said.
“The lives of brave American heroes may be lost and we may inflict casualties that are common in war, but we are not doing this for now. We are doing this for the future, and this is a noble duty.”
The Pentagon said in X that the US military called the operation “EPIC FURY”.
This is the second US attack on Iran since Trump returns to the White House in 2025. The first was in June when Washington launched a series of attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
A US official told Reuters that Saturday’s attacks, unlike the first, were expected to last several days.
The Israeli military said Tehran fired missiles at Israel in response.
In his message, Trump told members of Iran’s armed forces, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, to lay down their weapons and promised them immunity.
According to Trump, the other option is “certain death”. Washington and Tehran have held a series of talks about Iran’s nuclear ambitions in recent weeks. The latest took place on Thursday without a deal.
“Iran refuses, as it has for decades. They have rejected every opportunity to abandon their nuclear goals, and we can’t take it anymore,” Trump said.
The president first floated the idea of attacking Iran in January, amid two weeks of nationwide protests in which thousands of people were killed by authorities.
He warned that the United States would come to the aid of protesters if Iranian authorities shot and killed them. Trump later encouraged protesters to continue protesting, saying help was on the way.
In his statement about the attacks, Trump referred to the killing of protesters and told Iranians to take cover because the bombs would fall “everywhere.”
“When we’re done, take over your government. It will be yours. This will probably be your only chance for generations,” he said.
