US President Donald Trump’s administration rejected claims by Iranian officials that American soldiers were captured during the ongoing conflict between the US and Iran.
The denial followed a senior Iranian official’s bold claim, alleging that several US troops had been taken prisoner since the war broke out.
The claim came from Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, who stated on social media that “several American soldiers have been taken prisoner.” He also accused Washington of misrepresenting the situation by reporting the troops as killed in action instead of acknowledging their capture, Turkish news agency Anadolu Ajansı reported.
‘This is Iranian propaganda’
US officials swiftly rejected the accusation. A spokesperson for US Central Command (CENTCOM) and other American officials called the claim false and part of Iranian propaganda. According to the US military, Iranian forces have not captured any American troops.
“The Iranian regime’s claims of capturing American soldiers are yet another example of its lies and deceptions,” the spokesman said.
How many American soldiers have died in the war?
At least six members of the US armed forces have been killed since the war began on February 28, after the US and Israel launched a joint attack. Trump’s admin dubbed the military campaign “Operation Epic Fury”.
The US military has identified the dead soldiers as Declan Cody, Jeffrey O’Brien, Cody Khork, Noah Tietjens, Nicole Amor and Robert Marzan.
“It’s a very sad day. I’m glad we paid our respects. It’s tough. It’s a tough situation,” Trump said as he left the “dignified transfer” ceremony on Air Force One.
Still, he struck an upbeat note about the war itself, calling its progress “as good as it could be”.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported this week that an estimated 1,332 people have been killed in the war since last week. That death toll includes approximately 180 children who died in a strike on a school in the southeastern city of Minab.