What recent events have occurred involving U.S. service members and Iran?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. President Trump says the U.S. grieves for the three American service members killed in the fighting with Iran, calling them true American patriots. He spoke in an address posted online. Sadly, there will likely be more. Before it ends, that's the way it is. Five service members were seriously wounded. NPR's Greg Myrie has more.
U.S. Central Command, which is responsible for operations in the Middle East, says that in addition to those killed and seriously wounded, others sustained minor shrapnel injuries. The brief statement did not provide details. However, the reference to shrapnel wounds suggests the casualties were caused by the missiles or drones that Iran is firing at U.S. forces in the region on land and at sea.
U.S. and Israeli airstrikes last June and in the current air campaign have significantly weakened Iran's military. but it still has the ability to carry out deadly attacks. In another lethal Iranian strike, a missile hit a civilian area near Tel Aviv on Sunday, killing at least nine people. Greg Myrie, NPR News, Washington.
A U.S. official not authorized to speak publicly says that for now, Operation Epic Fury continues unabated. President Trump declared on social media the U.S. has sunk nine Iranian naval ships. However, U.S. Central Command has only confirmed one warship had been struck. Israel's military is saying its air force killed Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a Saturday strike.
Iran's regional allies are mourning his death. NPR's Jawad Rizqala reports from Beirut.
Thousands of black-clad supporters of the militant Iran-backed group gathered in a square in Beirut's southern suburbs. They chanted that Khamenei was their leader as they beat their chests in mourning. As Shia Muslims aligned with Hezbollah, many here saw him not only as a powerful political figure, but as their spiritual leader as well.
This part of Beirut is a Hezbollah stronghold, the area where Hezbollah's own leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike a year and a half ago. A few buildings here still lie in ruins from the war with Israel. Some in Lebanon now fear that war could resume if Hezbollah chooses to defend Iran. But for now, party loyalists are merely mourning. Jawad Rizqallah, NPR News, Beirut.
Iranian officials say since the Saturday strikes, the nation is being led by its president, the head of the judiciary, and one representative from the Council of Experts, that is the group which will elect Iran's new supreme leader, a decision is expected in a matter of days.
A senior White House official tells NPR that new potential leadership in Iran is indicating they want to talk and that President Trump expects to do so eventually, but there's no indication when. The president has spoken with leaders of Israel, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. All three countries have been hit by Iranian missiles, along with Qatar and Jordan. This is NPR News in Washington.
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