In the early hours of last Sunday, less than a day after the war with Iran began, it was confirmed that four U.S. soldiers had been killed by Iranian drone strikes. Three more were wounded, and it has been reported that two of them did not recover, which brings the number of confirmed U.S. military casualties to six.
The Pentagon and CENTCOM released their names; Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Waukee, Iowa and Chief Warrant Officer Robert M. Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California, Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; and Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa.
“Several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions and are in the process of being returned to duty,” CENTCOM said of the US casualties, adding that “major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing.”
However, it denied claims made by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that the American aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln was struck with ballistic missiles.
“The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close,” CENTCOM said. “The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.”
During times of war like this, we pray both for the families of the fallen and for the brave soldiers of both the U.S. and Israel putting their lives at risk to counter the Iranian threat. May God place His hedge of protection and light around them as we continue to pray for shalom, peace.