President Trump warned the ongoing joint US-Israeli war against Iran could stretch on for “four weeks or so” — as he mourned the three American service members killed in the conflict so far.
“They’re great people,” Trump told Daily Mail on Sunday.
“And, you know, we expect that to happen, unfortunately. Could happen continuous — it could happen again.”
Trump, who has been spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in South Florida, told Daily Mail by telephone that the campaign was “going as per planned” while suggesting the fighting could wrap up in about a month.
“It’s always been a four week process. We figured it will be four weeks or so. It’s always been about a four week process so – as strong as it is, it’s a big country, it’ll take four weeks, or less,” he said.
The comments came as the US military confirmed three American service members were killed and five were seriously wounded in Operation Epic Fury.
US CENTCOM, which is responsible for overseeing American military efforts in the Middle East and parts of Central Asia, said that major combat operations “continue and our response effort is ongoing.”
Pentagon officials said they were withholding the identities of the soldiers killed in action until 24 hours after their families have been notified.
It was not immediately clear where the service members were killed.
Iran has attacked US bases across the Middle East in response to the strikes that wiped out much of the Iranian leadership — including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Trump told the Daily Mail Iran was seeking talks now. “They want to, they want to talk, but I said you should have talked last week not this week,” he said.
The president said he had spoken Sunday with leaders in the region including the heads of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan.
Trump said he would meet the families of the slain troops “at the appropriate time.”
