Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth referred to Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing major combat operation in Iran that also resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as "our retribution" for Iran's long history in sponsoring terrorism during a press conference on Monday (March 2) via ABC News.

Hegseth said Iran's “war on Americans has become our retribution against their Ayatollah and his death cult,” and credited President Donald Trump as "a fighter who always puts America first" and having drew "the line after 47 years of Iranian belligerence." The Defense Secretary also said "We didn’t start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it," claiming Iran was building "powerful missiles and drones to create a conventional shield for their nuclear blackmail ambitions," with "our bases, our people, our allies all in their crosshairs."

A fourth U.S. service member was killed in action during Operation Epic Fury, the United States Central Command announced on Monday (March 2).

"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 response effort is ongoing. The identities of the fallen are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notification," CENTCOM wrote on its X account.

CENTCOM had previously confirmed that three U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were "mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses" during Operation Epic Fury, with the six-person aircrew ejecting safely on Monday, as well as the initial report of three U.S. service members and five others having been seriously wounded on Sunday (March 1). The Iranian regime gave a public warning claiming it was preparing to launch “the most devastating offensive operation in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s armed forces" against U.S. bases at any moment while confirming the death of Khamenei during an attack by American and Israeli force.

“The most devastating offensive operation in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s armed forces will begin toward the occupied territories and American terrorist bases in just moments,” the regime said via the semi-official Fars News Agency at around 6:15 a.m. local time.

Iran has launched retaliatory attacks on Israeli and American assets in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Oman in the hours following reports of Khamenei's death.

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