President Donald Trump warned that there might be U.S. casualties after the nation — and Israel — launched “major combat operations” in Iran on Saturday.
“My administration has taken every possible step to minimize the risk to U.S. personnel in the region. Even so, and I do not make this statement lightly, the Iranian regime seeks to kill. The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties,” Trump said in a video statement he shared on Truth Social.
“That often happens in war. But we’re doing this not for now. We’re doing this for the future,” he added. “And it is a noble mission. We pray for every service member as they selflessly risk their lives to ensure that Americans and our children will never be threatened by a nuclear armed Iran. We ask God to protect all of our heroes in harm’s way, and we trust that with His help, the men and women of the armed forces will prevail. We have the greatest in the world, and they will prevail.”
The U.S. and Israel launched the attack on Iran, with the first apparent strike happening near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iranian media reported strikes nationwide, and smoke could be seen rising from the capital.
Trump said Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program and plans to develop missiles to reach U.S.
He also called on the Iranian public to “seize control of your destiny” and rise up against the Islamic leadership that has ruled the nation since 1979.
“It’s been mass terror, and we’re not going to put up with it any longer,” Trump said.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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