President Donald Trump made striking statements in a phone interview with NBC News regarding the casualties in the US-Israeli military operations against Iran.

After the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that 3 American soldiers were killed and 5 were seriously wounded in the operation, Trump stated:
"Casualties are to be expected in something like this. So far we have 3 casualties, but we expect more. Still, in the end, this will be a great deal for the world."
Trump, stating that he was monitoring the operation from Mar-a-Lago, claimed that the attacks were "ahead of schedule" and that a large portion of Iran's top leadership (approximately 48 people) had been eliminated. He also claimed that Iranian officials were in contact with the US.
This statement came on the second day of the joint US-Israeli operation, codenamed "Operation Epic Fury," which began with the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While civilian and military casualties in Iran have reportedly exceeded 100 (over 200 deaths according to the Iranian Red Crescent), at least 10 people have also died in Israel as a result of Iranian retaliation. Trump's emphasis on "great gains despite the losses" is interpreted as arguing that the operation, by targeting Iran's nuclear program and leadership, will be "beneficial to the world" in the long run. The White House stated that the operation will continue in response to Iranian retaliation.
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