Trump claims Iran’s military command is ‘gone,’ laments that more US soldiers will likely die

Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

US President Donald Trump gestures as he arrives at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida on February 27, 2026. (Mandel NGAN / AFP)
US President Donald Trump gestures as he arrives at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida on February 27, 2026. (Mandel NGAN / AFP)

US President Donald Trump claims Iran’s “entire military command is gone” and that “thousands” are seeking to surrender in exchange for immunity.

“The entire military command is gone… and many of them want to surrender [in order to] save their lives. They want immunity. They’re calling by the thousands,” Trump says in a pre-recorded video statement uploaded to Truth Social, his second since the launch of joint US-Israeli strikes in Iran on Saturday morning.

“Combat operations continue at this time in full force, and they will continue until all of our objectives are achieved. We have very strong objectives,” Trump says.

He laments the first three deaths of American service members since the start of the operation, which were announced today, and says “there will likely be more.”

Still, he asserts, “our resolve, and likewise, that of Israel, has never been stronger.”

This is the first time he has mentioned Israel, which is conducting the campaign in partnership with the US, in his two video statements.

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