President Donald Trump announced on 1/3 that the United States would avenge the deaths of its soldiers and deliver severe punishment to those who initiated the war. This statement followed the US military's report of three service members killed, five seriously injured, and several others lightly wounded in the campaign against Iran. These were Washington's first casualties in the conflict. The circumstances leading to the casualties remain unclear, but two unnamed US officials stated the incident occurred in Kuwait. Trump expressed sorrow for the true patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country, adding, "Sadly, there will likely be more losses before this is over."

President Trump boards Air Force One in West Palm Beach, Florida, on 1/3. *AFP*

The US and Israeli militaries launched their offensive against Iran on the morning of 28/2. The strikes targeted defense and intelligence facilities, along with numerous high-ranking officials and generals.

Iran swiftly announced a retaliatory campaign, striking Israeli territory and multiple US bases across the Middle East, causing widespread infrastructure damage. Tehran asserted its targets were Washington's forces, not the territories of neighboring nations.

In his address, Trump warned Iranian armed forces to "surrender or die," following the US military's announcement that it had destroyed the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He called on the IRGC, the Iranian military, and police to lay down their arms and accept full immunity, warning they would otherwise "certainly face death. This will not be a good outcome." The US leader also urged the Iranian people to "reclaim their country," affirming that "America stands with you."

According to Trump, initial airstrikes hit hundreds of targets and decimated most of the Iranian navy's forces. He emphasized the campaign against the Middle Eastern nation would continue until the US "achieves its stated objectives," without specifying what those objectives were. Trump also claimed that 48 Iranian military leaders and commanders, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, had been killed. He indicated a willingness to engage in dialogue with new Iranian leaders, though he did not specify when such negotiations might occur.

By Huyen Le (AFP, CNN)