Donald Trump has claimed that more than 48 Iranian leaders have been killed in ongoing U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, describing the operation as a major success.
“Nobody can believe the success we’re having, 48 leaders are gone in one shot. And it’s moving along rapidly,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News.
The military strike, launched on Saturday, aims to dismantle the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran and weaken its military capabilities.
Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, has been confirmed dead.
In a separate interview with CNBC, Trump reiterated his confidence in the progress of the operation:
“We’re doing our job not just for us but for the world. And everything is ahead of schedule. Things are evolving in a very positive way right now, a very positive way.”
The interviews occurred before United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reported its first casualties in the conflict, confirming that three service members were killed, five seriously wounded, and several others sustained minor injuries.
CENTCOM also stated that U.S. forces had sunk an Iranian warship at a dock in the Gulf of Oman as part of ongoing operations.