Update 03/02/26 3:03 PM: “As of 4 pm ET, March 2, six U.S. service members have been killed in action. 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. Major combat operations continue. The identities of the fallen are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notification,” per CENTCOM.
The total number of Americans killed in the Iran conflict has risen to four. Officials are withholding their identities for 24 hours after notifying the next of kin.
CENTCOM Update
TAMPA, Fla. – As of 7:30 am ET, March 2, four U.S. service members have been killed in action. The fourth service member, who was seriously wounded during Iran’s initial attacks, eventually succumbed to their injuries.
Major combat operations continue and our…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 2, 2026
Military leaders previously announced three service members were “killed in action,” while five were “seriously wounded,” as of 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on March 1. Several others had gotten minor shrapnel injuries and concussions and were in the process of returning to duty.
The fourth casualty was “seriously wounded” during the initial attacks, and these injuries ultimately led to death.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the initial deaths resulted from a hit on an American tactical operations center, according to The Daily Caller.
“We have incredible air defenders. Every once [in] a while, you might have one, unfortunately… that makes its way through, and in that particular case, happened to hit a tactical operations center that was fortified,” he said.
In a separate incident, three U.S. F-15 jets went down in a “friendly fire” incident over Kuwait on March 1; all six pilots were able to eject and survived, according to CENTCOM.
At 11:03 p.m. ET, March 1, three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of Operation Epic Fury went down over Kuwait due to an apparent friendly fire incident.
Read more:https://t.co/i2y3Q3vo2E
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 2, 2026
The fighter jets were supporting Operation Epic Fury, targeting Iranian military and nuclear facilities, when they were shot down in an “apparent friendly fire incident” at 11:03 p.m. over Kuwait.
“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 officials said in a press release. “All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition.”
“Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation,” CENTCOM officials said in the release.
Authorities are still determining the cause of the crashes and plan to release more information as soon as it becomes available.
