Three American service members have been killed and five others seriously wounded amid the escalating conflict with Iran, the **United States Central Command** (CENTCOM) announced.

They mark the first reported American fatalities since the outbreak of the current hostilities.

CENTCOM did not release details regarding the specific circumstances that led to the deaths and injuries but confirmed that additional troops suffered minor shrapnel wounds and concussions and are in the process of returning to duty.

“Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing,” the command said in a statement.

Over the past 24 hours, Iran has launched ballistic missiles and drones targeting American military facilities across the Middle East, significantly raising tensions in the region.

Separately, CENTCOM firmly denied claims by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that the aircraft carrier **USS Abraham Lincoln** was struck by ballistic missiles.

“The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close,” CENTCOM stated.

“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,” the statement added.

Earlier, the IRGC had claimed that “the US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln was struck by four ballistic missiles,” a claim now categorically rejected by U.S. officials.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)