Mar 3, 7:21 AM
Trump Says Iran War Could End Within ‘Four Weeks or Less’ as Casualties Mount
US president defends ongoing strikes while Tehran escalates attacks across the Gulf, Israel and American targets
President Donald Trump said the war with Iran could last “four weeks or less,” as US and Israeli forces intensified airstrikes and Tehran expanded its retaliatory attacks across the Middle East.
Speaking to reporters late Sunday, Trump described the campaign as progressing according to plan, despite acknowledging that the scale of damage inflicted on Iran’s leadership exceeded initial expectations. He said 48 senior Iranian figures had been eliminated in the operation, though independent confirmation of that figure was not immediately available.
The conflict entered its third day on Monday. US and Israeli aircraft continued targeting sites inside Iran following a joint strike over the weekend that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, along with numerous senior commanders.
Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks on Gulf states that host US military bases, as well as on Israel. Iranian-backed militias, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah, have also launched projectiles toward Israeli and regional targets. Reports indicated that strikes may have reached areas near the US Embassy compound in Kuwait.
Trump said the military action was necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons or developing missiles capable of reaching the United States. The offensive follows earlier US claims that previous airstrikes had significantly degraded Iran’s nuclear capacity.
On Sunday, the US military confirmed its first fatalities since the latest escalation began. United States Central Command announced that three US service members were killed and five others seriously wounded. Several additional personnel suffered minor injuries, including shrapnel wounds and concussions, and were expected to return to duty.
US media reported that the soldiers were Army personnel deployed to Kuwait as part of a logistics and supply unit. The military did not specify the precise location or timing of the incident.
Trump acknowledged the likelihood of further American casualties, saying additional losses were possible before military objectives are met. In a recorded message posted on social media, he pledged retaliation for the deaths and said operations would continue “in full force” until US goals are achieved, without detailing those objectives.
Casualties have mounted across the region. Iranian state media reported more than 200 deaths inside Iran since the start of the strikes. In Israel, emergency services said at least nine people were killed and 27 injured after an Iranian missile struck the city of Beit Shemesh. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates reported three fatalities and 58 injuries from Iranian missile and drone attacks.
As the fighting spreads, Gulf Arab states have warned that they may respond to strikes on their territory. With cross-border attacks continuing and civilian casualties rising, the prospect of a swift end to hostilities remains uncertain despite Trump’s suggestion of a limited timeframe.
Diplomatic efforts appear stalled, and indirect nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran had been underway before the latest escalation. For now, military exchanges continue across multiple fronts, with no immediate sign of de-escalation.
