The president of the United States, Donald Trump, has claimed that over 48 Iranian leaders have been killed in ongoing US-Israeli bombardments, describing the offensive as a major success.
“Nobody can believe the success we’re having; 48 leaders are gone in one shot. And it’s moving along rapidly,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News.
The military strike, launched Saturday, aims to dismantle the Islamic Republic’s leadership and degrade its military capabilities.
Iran has confirmed the death of its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.
In a separate interview with CNBC, Trump reiterated his confidence in the operation’s progress.
“We’re doing our job not just for us but for the world. And everything is ahead of schedule,” he said. “Things are evolving in a very positive way right now, a very positive way.”
The interviews were conducted before the U.S. military announced its first casualties in the conflict. United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that three service members were killed, five seriously wounded, and several others sustained lighter injuries.
CENTCOM also said U.S. forces had sunk an Iranian warship at a dock in the Gulf of Oman as part of ongoing operations.
