In a bold assertion amid escalating tensions, US President Donald Trump declared that joint American-Israeli airstrikes have wiped out 48 senior Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and numerous high-ranking commanders.
Speaking to Fox News and CNBC, Trump hailed the operation as a resounding success, noting it is progressing “ahead of schedule” and has crippled Iran’s leadership structure.
“The strikes took out 48 Iranian leaders in one go,” Trump stated, adding that the US Air Force deployed four B-2 stealth bombers for precision attacks on underground ballistic missile sites. These bombers, flying non-stop from US bases, unleashed dozens of 2,000-pound bombs, confirmed by open-source flight tracking data. Trump further revealed that Iran now seeks negotiations, saying, “Iran wants to talk. America is ready for talks,” and lamented that Tehran should have initiated dialogue earlier.
The operation, dubbed ‘Epic Fury’, has not been without cost. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported three American service members killed in action and five seriously wounded by 9:30 am ET, with others suffering minor injuries like shrapnel wounds and concussions. The identities of the fallen are being withheld pending family notifications.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed the aggressive stance, announcing that Israeli forces are “striking the heart of Tehran faster” and will intensify efforts in the coming days. “Together with the United States, we are doing what I wanted to do for 40 years – a strong strike on the terrorist regime,” Netanyahu said, vowing to secure Israel’s future through full military might.
As large-scale operations continue, the strikes respond to alleged threats from Tehran, including attacks on US bases in Iraq. Protests have erupted in Muslim-majority nations like Pakistan and Kashmir following reports of Khamenei’s death, while explosions rocked Dubai airport.
This development marks a pivotal moment in the Iran-US-Israel conflict, potentially paving the way for diplomatic breakthroughs or further escalation.