Live updates: Joint US - Israel military offensive Operation Epic Fury

The after effects of the massive attack on Iran are continuing this weekend as the country confirmed early Sunday morning local time that its supreme leader was dead. 

The announcement came after a joint U.S. and Israeli aerial bombardment that targeted Iranian military and governmental sites. 

President Donald Trump said the "heavy and pinpoint bombing" was to continue through the week or as long as necessary. 

RELATED: Lawmakers react to 'Operation Epic Fury' US - Israel military strikes across Iran

RELATED: World leaders react to 'Operation Epic Fury' US - Israel military strikes across Iran

Follow ongoing updates below. 

Trump shares video message

4:30 p.m. ET: President Trump said of U.S. service members killed that America will ’avenge their deaths."

The president made the comments in a roughly six minute video he posted on social media Sunday afternoon. He called the three service members "true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, even as we continue the righteous mission for which they gave their lives."

The president went on and added: "Sadly, there will likely be more, before it ends. That’s the way it is. Likely be more."

Trump says 9 Iranian Navy ships destroyed

1:15 p.m. ET: In a social media post Sunday, President Trump said U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran have destroyed nine Iranian naval ships, "some of them relatively large and important."

"We are going after the rest — They will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea, also! In a different attack, we largely destroyed their Naval Headquarters. Other than that, their Navy is doing very well!" Trump wrote. 

CIA tracked Iranian leaders’ movements for months

12:10 p.m. ET: The CIA tracked the movements of senior Iranian leaders, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for months before Saturday's airstrikes, according to a person familiar with the operation who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The intelligence was shared with Israeli officials, and the timing of the strikes was adjusted in part because of that information about the Iranian leaders’ location, the person said.

3 US service members killed, 5 seriously injured

9:57 a.m. ET: The U.S. military says as of 9:30 a.m. ET Sunday, three American service members have been killed and five are seriously injured in Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran. "Several others" were hurt by shrapnel and concussions. 

U.S. Central Command shared the update on social media and said they won't release any more information until 24 hours after family members have been notified.

Iranian president says new leadership council ‘has begun its work’ after death of supreme leader

9:15 a.m. ET: Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday that a new leadership council "has begun its work" after the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Pezeshkian made the comment in a prerecorded message aired on Iranian state television.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the Al Jazeera network that a new supreme leader will be chosen in "one or two days."

At least 8 Israelis killed as Iran missile barrage lands near Jerusalem

8:30 a.m. ET: At least eight people were killed after Iran's latest missile barrage landed just miles from Jerusalem. The strikes landed in the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh. Initial reports said four people were killed when missiles landed in a residential area on Sunday, but that death toll rose to eight, according to Israel's national emergency service. 

IDF confirms elimination of 40 Iranian commanders including armed forces chief of staff

6:30 a.m. ET: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Sunday that 40 senior Iranian commanders had been killed since the launch of "Operation Epic Fury," including the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces in Tehran Abdolrahim Mousavi.

"Mousavi served as one of the highest senior military ranking officials and was the successor of Mohammad Bagheri, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, who was eliminated in the opening strike of 'Operation Rision Lion' in June 2025," the IDF said in a statement.

"The majority of the highest-ranking senior military officials of the Iranian security leadership have been eliminated by the IDF," the Israeli military added.

The strikes in Iran, which began on Saturday, killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

President Trump warns Iran against following through with retaliation threats

5 a.m. ET: In a Truth Social post early Sunday morning, President Trump warned Iran that the U.S. will strike them with a force never seen before if Tehran follows through with its retaliation threats.

"Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever been hit before," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "THEY BETTER NOT DO THAT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE IF THEY DO, WE WILL HIT THEM WITH A FORCE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!"

Trump's warning came after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said earlier Sunday that it would launch its "most-intense offensive operation," beginning in "moments."

MORE: Will gas prices go up amid US strikes on Iran?

US and Israel attack Iran

The backstory:

On Saturday, the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Tehran, and Trump said the U.S. was starting major combat operations against Iran.

This is the second time in eight months that the Trump administration has attacked the Islamic Republic during talks over its nuclear program. Trump says Iran keeps pursuing nuclear work and missile development, and he warns U.S. casualties are possible.