WASHINGTON D.C March 1, 2026 — U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan) has extended her sympathies to the families of American service members killed and wounded during escalating U.S. military operations against Iran, describing the losses as a stark reminder of the human cost of decisions made in Washington.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) late Sunday, Sen. Slotkin wrote: “My thoughts are with the families of the American service members killed and wounded in the operations in Iran. These Americans answered the call to serve. Their deaths are a reminder of the real, dire consequences of decisions made in Washington.”
She linked to an Associated Press report confirming the casualties.
The statement follows the U.S. military’s announcement on March 1 that three U.S. Army soldiers were killed and five others seriously wounded — the first American fatalities in the conflict. The troops, part of a logistics and supply unit based in Kuwait, died amid Iranian retaliatory strikes on U.S. bases in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Additional personnel sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions.
The casualties occurred during Operation Epic Fury, a joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign launched on February 28 that targeted Iranian missile capabilities and leadership. The strikes resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures.
President Donald Trump addressed the losses in a video posted to Truth Social on Sunday, saying: “We pray for the full recovery of the wounded and send our immense love and eternal gratitude to the families of the fallen… These are true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.” Trump added that more casualties were likely and vowed to avenge the deaths, estimating the operation could last “four weeks or so.”
Sen. Slotkin, a former CIA analyst and three-tour Iraq veteran who now serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, has previously criticised the Trump administration for launching the strikes without sufficient public justification or congressional approval. In statements issued after the initial attacks, she noted Iran’s role as a state sponsor of terrorism but stressed that “issues of war and peace should be treated with the utmost consequence.”
The situation in the Middle East remains fluid, with U.S. Central Command describing ongoing operations as dynamic. Identities of the fallen service members have not yet been released pending family notifications.
Life News Agency will continue to monitor developments in this rapidly evolving story.
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