U.S. Central Command confirmed the deaths of two American service members—one from injuries sustained during an Iranian attack in Saudi Arabia and another following a medical emergency in Kuwait—as combat operations tied to Operation Epic Fury continue.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
U.S. Central Command announced Sunday that two American service members have died as military operations tied to Operation Epic Fury continue across the Middle East, including one fatality resulting from injuries sustained during an Iranian attack and another linked to a medical emergency in Kuwait.
According to CENTCOM, a U.S. service member wounded during the Iranian regime’s initial attacks across the region died Saturday night. The service member had been seriously injured at the scene of a strike targeting American troops stationed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on March 1.
“Last night, a U.S. service member passed away from injuries received during the Iranian regime’s initial attacks across the Middle East,” CENTCOM said in its announcement. “The service member was seriously wounded at the scene of an attack on U.S. troops in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on March 1. This is the seventh service member killed in action during Operation Epic Fury.”
Military officials stated that the identity of the fallen service member would not be released immediately as the Department of Defense follows notification procedures for family members.
“Major combat operations continue. The identity of the fallen warrior will be withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notification,” the command said.
The death occurred amid a broader escalation following the launch of Operation Epic Fury, which triggered a large-scale military response from Iran. Iranian forces responded by firing hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at targets across several countries in the region, including Israel, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.
Later Sunday evening, CENTCOM confirmed a second death involving a member of the National Guard stationed in Kuwait. In a separate statement published by the command, officials said the soldier died following a medical emergency.
“A U.S. National Guard Soldier died in a health-related incident in Kuwait on March 6 during a medical emergency,” CENTCOM said in a second announcement shared by the command. “The exact cause of death is under review.”
The statement regarding the incident was published through another official CENTCOM post addressing the circumstances surrounding the soldier’s death.
The announcement comes days after a major Iranian strike that killed multiple U.S. personnel deployed in the region. President Donald Trump attended a dignified transfer ceremony Saturday at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where the remains of six American service members killed in a March 1 attack in Kuwait were returned to the United States.
The Department of War identified the six service members killed in the Kuwait strike as Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa; Maj. Jeffrey R. O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa; and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California.
The deaths bring the total number of American service members killed in connection with Operation Epic Fury to seven from combat-related incidents, according to CENTCOM’s latest announcement, with investigations continuing into the circumstances surrounding both the Iranian strike and the health-related fatality in Kuwait.