First US deaths confirmed in Iran conflict

Israel is vowing to continue pounding Iran with heavy airstrikes over the coming days.

Iranian officials say more than 200 people have already been killed in the attacks, including around 150 at a girls’ school in Minab. It’s also taken out several of Iran’s senior leaders, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 

Tehran has responded with a barrage of missiles and drones aimed at Israel and several of its Arab neighbours, where the US operates from military bases.

The IDF has confirmed that nine Israelis have died, accusing Iran of killing innocent civilians in a strike on the city of Beit Shemesh.

Tehran’s retaliatory strikes have also claimed the lives of three people in the United Arab Emirates, two in Iraq and one in Kuwait.

Meanwhile, the US has suffered its first casualties, with Central Command (CENTCOM) confirming three troops have been killed in action and another five are seriously injured.

In a statement, it says several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions and are in the process of being returned to duty. It adds that major combat operations continue and their response effort is ongoing.

However, CENTCOM is denying Iranian state media reports that the USS Lincoln aircraft carrier has been attacked by ballistic missiles.

In contrast, Donald Trump claims the US has destroyed and sunk nine Iranian Naval ships.

Posting on Truth Social, the President says some of the ships were relatively large and important, and that the rest will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea.

As the conflict escalates, New Zealanders across the Middle East are urged to be on high alert.

 International law expert Al Gillespie says there are serious questions over the justification for the strikes.

“There’s a big gap between theory and practice (in international law). It’s probably as legal as the 2003 invasion of Iraq and that wasn’t legal”.

“There’s nothing in the UN Charter that says you can bomb people who won’t negotiate with you”.

Al Gillespie says there is an argument that you can have pre-emptive attacks if there is an overwhelming threat to you which is imminent and you have to act without Security Council authorisation.

“But whether there was an overwhelming threat of an attack by Iran, especially with regards to Nuclear capability is very questionable”.