Six Americans Dead as U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates

Six American service members are dead in the wake of Iran's counter-strikes on U.S. forces stationed in Kuwait, marking one of the most deadly escalations yet in the ongoing military conflict between the United States and Iran.

The strikes come after the U.S. and Israel launched waves of attacks on Iran, with air raid sirens sounding in Jerusalem and new explosions reported in Tehran. The Pentagon and White House say the U.S. is winning and that larger waves of strikes are coming. President Trump defended the decision to strike, saying the goal was to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. 

New details are emerging about how the operation came together. A senior U.S. official confirmed to NBC News that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called President Trump last Monday to warn that Iran's Supreme Leader would be meeting with top advisors the following Saturday — offering a potential window to strike them all at once. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the tip "had an impact on the timeline of the operation, but not quite the president's decision in its entirety." Officials also pointed to a breakdown in nuclear talks with Iran last Thursday, and Trump's belief that Iran was preparing to strike first.

On Capitol Hill, Democratic and some Republican critics pushed a resolution to limit the president's ability to wage war without congressional approval — but Senate Republicans voted it down. Americans across the Middle East are scrambling to reach safety, and the administration says it is working to help them get out.