Iran war death toll so far: 6 US service members killed

Julia Gomez and Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAYTue, March 3, 2026 at 5:57 PM UTC

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The death toll in the Iran war has risen, and Iran’s counterattacks thus far have killed at least at least six United States service members.

Four days after joint U.S. and Israel strikes against Iran began on Saturday, Feb. 28, a total of six U.S. service members have been killed in action, according to the U.S. Central Command.

"U.S. forces recently recovered the remains of two previously unaccounted for service members from a facility that was struck during Iran's initial attacks in the region," Central Command announced in a post X on Monday, March 2.

Hundreds of people have also been killed in surrounding countries, with Iran reporting the highest number of deaths. Here's what to know about the death toll so far.

Iran war live updates: US promises 'punishing' wave of attacks

1 / 0See Iran's retaliatory attacks on US military sites in the Middle East

Iran launched retaliatory drone and missile strikes against American and Israeli targets after the joint U.S.-Israeli attack. Iran said its enemies would be "decisively defeated." Photos show reported attacks in Bahrain and Qatar. Smoke rises after the state news agency reported missile attack on the service center of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, following strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, in Manama, Bahrain February 28, 2026, in this still image obtained from a video.

How many US service members have been killed?

As of Tuesday, March 3, at 8:30 a.m. ET, at least six U.S. service member deaths have been confirmed. The identities of those killed have not been released.

Where have US service members been killed?

The four American service members confirmed killed in the war with Iran were stationed in Kuwait, USA TODAY previously reported. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at a news conference that they were killed when an Iranian missile escaped U.S. air defenses and hit a "tactical operations center that was fortified."

According to Reuters, the two additional American service member deaths announced on Monday, March 2, also happened on a base in Kuwait.

Animals stand by a road sign as smoke rises in the Fujairah oil industry zone in the United Arab Emirates, following a fire caused by debris after interception of a drone by air defenses, according to the Fujairah media office, on March 3, 2026.More is yet to come, according to Rubio, Trump

As the American death toll continues to climb, President Donald Trump said on March 2 that an even bigger wave of attacks on Iran could come in the next couple of days.

"We haven’t even started hitting them hard. The big wave hasn’t even happened. The big one is coming soon," the president told CNN host Jake Tapper in a phone call.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also said that another phase was coming.

"The next phase will be even more punishing on Iran than it is right now," Rubio told reporters on Monday. "The hardest hits are yet to come from the U.S. military."

Trump and Rubio's comments came on the same day Hegseth told reporters that the war would not be "endless."

"This is not Iraq. This is not endless," Hegseth said at the Pentagon. "Our generation knows better."

However, in a Truth Social post, the president said that the U.S. can fight its wars "forever."

"The United States Munitions Stockpiles have, at the medium and upper medium grade, never been higher or better," Trump wrote on March 2. "As was stated to me today, we have a virtually unlimited supply of these weapons. Wars can be fought 'forever,' and very successfully, using just these supplies (which are better than other countries' finest arms!)."

Death tolls across the Middle East

As of March 3, the following casualties have been reported in the Middle East, according to Al Jazeera, citing aid organizations, government officials and local media outlets.

Iran – 787 killed, hundreds injured

Israel – 11 killed, hundreds injured

The United Arab Emirates – 3 killed, 68 injured

Bahrain – 1 killed, 4 injured

Iraq – 2 killed, 5 injured

Jordan – 5 injured, no deaths reported

Kuwait – 3 killed, 35 injured

Lebanon – 40 killed, 246 injured

Qatar – 16 injured, no deaths reported

Oman – 1 killed, 5 injured

Saudi Arabia – No deaths or injuries reported

One Chinese citizen was also killed in the U.S.-Israeli strikes that hit Tehran, the capital of Iran, USA TODAY previously reported. Over 3,000 Chinese citizens were evacuated.

Contributing: Michael Loria, Zac Anderson, Jeanine Santucci, Bart Jansen; USA TODAY

Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers popular toys, scientific studies, natural disasters, holidays, and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 6 US service members killed; see Iran war death toll

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