President Donald Trump has spoken publicly for the first time following the death of three U.S. soldiers in Kuwait during ongoing military operations against Iran.
In a brief phone interview with NBC News on March 1, Trump issued a warning to U.S. citizens, acknowledging that casualties are an expected consequence of the operations.
“We expect casualties with something like this. We have three, but we expect casualties. But in the end, it’s going to be a great deal for the world,” Trump said.
When asked about the outcomes he hopes to see from the operations, Trump outlined multiple scenarios. “Number one is decapitating them, getting rid of their whole group of killers and thugs. And there are many, many outcomes. We could do the short version or the longer version,” he explained, highlighting the potential scope of the military engagement.
Trump also addressed the possibility of diplomatic engagement with Iran. He said Iranian officials have expressed interest in continuing talks with the United States, but he did not commit to pausing military strikes during negotiations. “I don’t know. If they can satisfy us, they haven’t been able to,” he said.
The remarks come as part of a wider military campaign that has involved coordinated strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces against strategic locations in Iran. Satellite images and reports indicate significant damage to military installations, including missile sites, drone launch facilities, and Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) compounds in Tehran and across the country.
The attacks follow warnings from Trump that the United States would take military action unless Iran agreed to new terms regarding its nuclear program.
Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear activities are peaceful. U.S. Central Command stated that the operations aim to dismantle the Iranian regime’s security apparatus and target locations deemed an imminent threat.
Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. assets and allies in the Gulf, including bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Jordan.
According to Iranian state-affiliated sources, more than 200 people have been killed and over 700 injured across the country, while at least 40 Iranian officials were reportedly killed during the strikes, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israeli forces participated in the operation, which targeted key Iranian military and leadership sites. The Israel Defense Forces reported that approximately 200 fighter jets conducted coordinated strikes on more than 500 targets, including missile arrays and air defense systems.
The attacks have disrupted civilian life in Iran and the wider region. Iran’s airspace has been closed, and the country is experiencing an almost total internet blackout, complicating verification of events.
Many flights to and from the region have been canceled, affecting travel to Israel, Iran, the UAE, Jordan, and other nearby countries. Airlines, including British Airways, Swiss International, Emirates, and Wizz Air, have suspended operations until further notice.
In the United States, the Pentagon confirmed that no additional U.S. casualties have been reported beyond the three soldiers killed in Kuwait, and that damage to American installations in the Gulf remains limited.
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