US confirms three American troops killed in Iran military operation as Gulf tensions rise, US warships targeted and regional security risks widen.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for a direct missile attack on a US aircraft carrier operating in the Gulf. (Photo: X/CENTCOM)
The rapidly expanding conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States has entered a dangerous new phase, with Washington confirming its first battlefield losses since the surprise military campaign began.
The US military said three American service members were killed and five others seriously wounded during active operations targeting Iran. These deaths mark the first confirmed American casualties since the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iranian targets.
In a statement posted on X, US Central Command said additional personnel “sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions — and are in the process of being returned to duty.”
The command added that major combat operations remain ongoing and described the situation as “fluid.”
While the US military did not release details about the exact location or circumstances of the deaths, officials confirmed that American forces remain actively engaged across multiple fronts in the region.
CENTCOM stated that US naval forces struck an Iranian military vessel early in the campaign. According to the post, the Jamaran-class corvette “is currently sinking to the bottom of the Gulf of Oman at a Chah Bahar pier,” indicating a direct hit on Iranian naval infrastructure.
CENTCOM Update
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 1, 2026
TAMPA, Fla. – As of 9:30 am ET, March 1, three U.S. service members have been killed in action and five are seriously wounded as part of Operation Epic Fury.
Several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions — and are in the process of being…
The attack signals a widening maritime dimension to the conflict, with the Gulf of Oman and surrounding waters becoming active battle zones.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for a direct missile attack on a US aircraft carrier operating in the Gulf.
"The US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln was struck by four ballistic missiles," the Guards said in a statement carried by local media, warning that "the land and sea will increasingly become the graveyard of the terrorist aggressors".
🚫Iran’s IRGC claims to have struck USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles. LIE.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 1, 2026
✅The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by… pic.twitter.com/AjaeHMemtA
However, a US official rejected the claim, saying an Iranian missile attack on USS Abraham Lincoln did not reach the vessel and caused no damage. The aircraft carrier continues normal operations in the region, according to the official.
The conflicting claims highlight the fog of war surrounding the fast-moving military confrontation.
As tensions rise beyond Iran’s borders, the US Embassy in Baghdad issued an urgent security advisory warning of growing threats to American interests inside Iraq.
The embassy said it is “tracking active threats to US interests in Iraq, including restaurants, businesses, and individuals.”
US “citizens should remain alert to their surroundings and avoid large crowds, as demonstrations may turn violent”, it said.
The advisory reflects fears that Iran-aligned groups could expand retaliation beyond direct military targets.
The deaths of US troops come amid an unprecedented escalation following airstrikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader and senior military commanders. In response, Tehran has launched missile and drone attacks across the Gulf, targeting US allies and strategic assets.
With naval confrontations, missile exchanges, and rising civilian risks, analysts warn that the conflict could spiral into a prolonged regional war affecting global security and energy supplies.
For now, Washington has made clear that its military campaign will continue, even as American casualties mount and tensions push the Middle East into uncharted territory.
