Donald Trump has vowed to “avenge” American troops killed in the escalating war with Iran, issuing a forceful ultimatum during his second address to the nation in 48 hours.
Speaking from Mar-a-Lago on Sunday, the president confirmed the deaths of three U.S. service members in Kuwait and described them as “true American patriots” who made the ultimate sacrifice.
“America will avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow to the terrorists who have waged war against basically, civilization,” Trump declared.
According to Daily Mail, the president warned Iran’s leadership to stand down as violence intensifies across the Middle East, with missile strikes reported in Israel and several Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, as well as U.S. military bases in the region.
“These intolerable threats will not continue any longer,” Trump said, directly addressing Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and military police. “Lay down your arms and receive full immunity — or face certain death.”
He also urged the Iranian people to rise up against the Islamic regime, calling on them to “be brave, be bold, be heroic and take back your country.”
The address comes amid growing unease at home. Polling indicates a majority of Americans oppose the expanding conflict, and some Republican allies have voiced concerns as crucial midterm elections approach in November. Nonetheless, Trump framed the campaign as a fight for long-term security.
“We’re undertaking this massive operation not merely to ensure security for our own time and place, but for our children and their children,” he said. “These actions are right and necessary to ensure that Americans will never have to face a radical, bloodthirsty terrorist regime armed with nuclear weapons.”
The conflict escalated sharply following the reported killing of Ali Khamenei, Iran’s long-serving Supreme Leader. In response, U.S. and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes across Iran, targeting ballistic missile sites, military installations and naval assets.
The U.S. military confirmed that B-2 stealth bombers deployed 2,000-pound bombs against missile facilities, while Trump claimed on social media that nine Iranian warships had been sunk and the Iranian navy’s headquarters “largely destroyed.”
Explosions were reported across Tehran, sending plumes of smoke over the capital. Iranian officials say more than 200 people have been killed since the start of the campaign.
In Israel, rescue services reported that nine people were killed and 28 wounded after a strike hit a synagogue in the central town of Beit Shemesh. Authorities said others remain missing.
Israeli officials confirmed that 100 fighter jets simultaneously targeted sites in Tehran, including air force buildings, missile command centres and internal security headquarters.
The widening conflict has drawn international concern. Britain, France and Germany signalled readiness to work with Washington to curb Iran’s attacks, warning of the risk of further regional destabilisation.
Despite his strong rhetoric, Trump suggested he may still be open to negotiations with Iran’s new leadership.
“They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk,” he told The Atlantic. “So I will be talking to them.”
However, there were no visible signs of mass uprising in Tehran. Witnesses reported largely deserted streets as residents sheltered from ongoing airstrikes.
As the conflict deepens, fears are mounting that the war could engulf the broader Middle East, testing both regional stability and global alliances.
