The U.S. military death toll from the war with Iran has risen to six, according to a release on Monday evening from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
"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," CENTCOM's release read.
Earlier on Monday, Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the U.S. expected additional losses.
“We grieve with you, and we will never forget you,” Caine said of the family members of those killed at a press conference with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Later in the day, President Donald Trump left open the possibility of a more extensive U.S. military involvement, telling the New York Post that he was not ruling out the possibility of boots on the ground in Iran.
“I don’t have the yips with respect to boots on the ground — like every president says, ‘There will be no boots on the ground.’ I don’t say it,” Trump said. “I say ‘probably don’t need them,’ (or) ‘if they were necessary.’”
In an update posted on social media just before 7:30 a.m. ET on Monday, CENTCOM reported a service member who wass "seriously wounded during Iran’s initial attacks, eventually succumbed to their injuries," which raised the death toll to four.
At 11:03 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 1, three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles were brought down over Kuwait due to an apparent friendly fire incident.
"During active combat—that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones — the U.S. Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses," CENTCOM's release read. All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
Just before 10 a.m. ET, on Sunday, March 1, CENTCOM announced the deaths of three U.S. service members and five others who were seriously wounded. (One of which has later died.)
"Several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions — and are in the process of being returned to duty," the CENTCOM release at the time read. "Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing."