US President Donald Trump has indicated that the war with Iran could continue for up to four weeks, warning that further American casualties are likely as fighting intensifies across the region.
In an exclusive phone interview with the Daily Mail on Sunday, Trump said the military campaign had always been expected to last about a month. “It’s always been a four-week process. We figured it will be four weeks or so. It’s always been about a four-week process — as strong as it is, it’s a big country, it’ll take four weeks — or less,” the president said. He added that he had not been surprised by developments so far.
Trump also confirmed the first U.S. fatalities of the conflict, saying three American service members had been killed. The troops have not yet been publicly identified. “They’re great people,” he said. “And, you know, we expect that to happen, unfortunately. Could happen continuous — it could happen again.”
The president acknowledged the deaths were the first US casualties of his second term, following earlier operations that he said were conducted without American losses.
The latest escalation began on Saturday when US and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes on Iranian military and strategic targets, including facilities linked to missile capabilities and security leadership.
Iran retaliated within hours, firing missile and drone barrages toward Israeli territory and US assets in the region. On Sunday, Israel responded with a fresh wave of airstrikes on Tehran, targeting security compounds and military infrastructure. Iranian forces launched additional missiles in response, triggering air defence systems across multiple cities.
Early Monday, the conflict widened further when Israel reported intercepting projectiles launched from southern Lebanon. The launches were believed to have been carried out by Hezbollah, the powerful armed group backed by Tehran. The exchange marked the first direct involvement by Hezbollah in the current round of fighting.
Israel responded with airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, raising fears that a northern front could open alongside the ongoing confrontation with Iran.
US Central Command, meanwhile, has said that more than 1,000 Iranian-linked targets have been struck since operations began, describing the campaign as ongoing. The command said in a social media post: "The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) killed more than 1,000 Americans over the past 47 years. Yesterday, a large-scale US strike cut off the head of the snake. America has the most powerful military on earth, and the IRGC no longer has a headquarters."
It also posted a video of the operation.
