Iran claims 500 US troops killed in five-day war

Iran has claimed that over 500 US military personnel have been killed in the ongoing five-day conflict that began Saturday, according to a post on the social media platform X by Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.

The Pentagon, however, has confirmed only six US fatalities, including four in Kuwait, reports Anadolu Ajansi.

Larijani, a former advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said, “The story does not end here. You will pay a heavy price for Imam Khamenei’s martyrdom, Inshallah.”

The conflict erupted on Saturday following a joint US-Israeli strike targeting Iran, which killed Khamenei and several senior military officials. Khamenei’s wife, daughter, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and grandchildren also died in the strike at his Tehran residence.

Iranian government figures suggest that approximately 1,050 Iranians have been killed over four days of fighting, including 165 schoolchildren in Minab, southern Iran, prompting widespread outrage.

In retaliation for Khamenei’s assassination, Iran has conducted missile and drone strikes targeting US and Israeli military installations in the Middle East.

Larijani confirmed on Monday that Iran is preparing for a “prolonged conflict” and rejected a diplomatic proposal offered by Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi.