Donald Trump used his Memorial address at Arlington National Cemetery to honor 13 service members. They were lost during U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran under Operation Epic Fury, which began on Feb. 28.
The 79-year-old compared these attacks to those in Venezuela under Operation Absolute Resolve on Jan. 3, 2026. According to the Washington Times, Trump described the operation in Venezuela as a “final and total victory” carried out against the Venezuelan government. “We took that over in one day. We lost no one,” Trump said in his speech.
The 47th president of the United States then shifted his tone and mentioned the 13 American troops who died during the operation. “In Operation Epic Fury, we lost 13 wonderful souls, special people,” he said.
“These incredible men and women gave their lives to ensure that the world’s number one state sponsor of terror will never have a nuclear weapon,” he said before speaking in detail about the soldiers. He also boasted that Iran will never gather the courage and resources to develop a nuclear weapon. Trump’s remarks came after U.S. Central Command reported that 13 American service members had been killed and 381 injured during the war.
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According to defense data, seven personnel were killed by enemy fire. They were reportedly Army soldiers who died on March 1 during an Iranian airstrike in Saudi Arabia. The other six deaths were non-hostile and involved an Air Force KC-135 refueling crew who died while supporting ongoing airstrikes.
Reports by CNN state that the names of 13 U.S. service members killed during Operation Epic Fury include Maj. John “Alex” Klinner, Capt. Ariana G. Savino, Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, Capt. Seth R. Koval, Capt. Curtis J. Angst, Sgt. Declan Coady, Capt. Cody Khork, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, and Sgt. Benjamin Pennington.
Later in the speech, Trump specifically mentioned Ariana G. Savino, an Air Force major who died while serving on an Epic Fury mission in Iraq. Addressing her family at the event, Trump said her sacrifice “will not be in vain.”
Savino, 31, was passionate about flying. Her family described her as a “fierce, brave, passionate” woman who lived with courage and had an unmatched aura, in an interview with KOMO News after her death. She served as chief of current operations for the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, where she managed daily flight schedules, training, and mission operations, according to the U.S. Air Force.
The U.S. and Israel planned what officials described as one of their most important attacks on Iran in decades. The attacks escalated when Iran launched missile and drone strikes across the region, including toward the United Arab Emirates. Several major Gulf countries closed their airspace and canceled flights.
Iran previously proposed a 14-point plan that called for the United States to withdraw forces near its borders, lift the naval blockade and halt hostilities, including Israeli military operations in Lebanon. Iran also called for a broader agreement within 30 days.
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Meanwhile, other diplomatic efforts to end the war failed. Vice President JD Vance reportedly tried to negotiate a ceasefire with Iran, with diplomatic support, after talks in Islamabad, Pakistan. Still, the discussions broke down after Iran rejected the proposed U.S. terms following extended negotiations. According to the BBC, as of May 2026, the U.S. said it launched new strikes on southern Iran, targeting Iranian missile sites, and said it would attempt to place mines.
US officials said the action was taken in “self-defense” and aimed “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” according to US Central Command.
Iran has not publicly responded to the latest strikes. However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqai said some progress had been made in negotiations to end the conflict, though a final agreement “is not imminent.”
