ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Sunday announced that three service members had been killed and five others were seriously wounded in the recent escalations with Iran.

Three US service members "have been killed in action and five are seriously wounded as part of Operation Epic Fury," CENTCOM said in a statement posted on X, adding that several others had sustained minor shrapnel wounds and are in the process of being "returned to duty."

The US and Israel on Saturday morning launched a large-scale military offensive across Iran. The strikes have killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in addition to several other top Iranian officials. The offensive came following months of escalating tensions between the two sides. 

Iran has retaliated with missile and drone bombardments primarily targeting US military bases in the Middle East, giving rise to myriad diplomatic protests by regional states on whose territory the US installations were bombed.

The command said that it has chosen to withhold additional information "out of respect for the families," including the name of their fallen members, until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified."