Four US Service Members Confirmed Dead as Iran Retaliates for Weekend Strikes

Four American service members are now confirmed dead as Iran strikes back against US military bases across the region, the Pentagon announced Monday. According to the US Central Command, the fourth service member died from injuries sustained in Iran’s initial attacks that killed three others.

The soldiers were part of an Army unit based in Kuwait. Four others were seriously wounded in the retaliatory attacks that followed this weekend's coordinated US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

President Trump warned there would likely be more casualties as "combat operations continue at this time in full force, and they will continue until all of our objectives are achieved."

The escalating violence has hit American forces from multiple directions. The Pentagon confirmed Monday that three US Air Force fighter jets crashed in Kuwait after being mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses during active combat under Iranian attacks. All six crew members ejected and were recovered safely.

Two sources briefed on the matter told NBC News that Saturday's strikes were deliberately timed based on intelligence that Khamenei would be at a meeting with senior leaders. Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon are now exchanging fire in the aftermath.

Trump told NBC News he decided to act because Iran refused to say they wouldn't pursue nuclear weapons after weeks of negotiations.

Congress returns Tuesday, with many lawmakers calling for a vote to force the president to get congressional approval before any further military action. Reaction has split largely on party lines.

"I think the President has started a war of choice. There was no imminent threat to the United States," said Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA).

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) took the opposite view: "The largest state sponsor of terrorism, Iran, is close to collapsing."

Lawmakers are pressing for classified briefings as the fighting continues.