ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - United States President Donald Trump notified Congress on Monday that recent strikes on Iran were undertaken “to protect” the US, saying no US “ground forces” were used in the operation.
“These strikes were undertaken to protect United States forces in the region, protect the United States homeland, advance vital United States national interests, including ensuring the free flow of maritime commerce through the Strait of Hormuz, and in collective self-defense of our regional allies, including Israel,” Trump wrote in the letter to Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley.
Trump’s letter comes as the US and Israel press on with a campaign against Iran launched Saturday, targeting dozens of senior military and security figures in Tehran. Among them, the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed.
“No United States ground forces were used in these strikes,” Trump said, adding that “the mission was planned and executed in a manner designed to minimize civilian casualties, deter future attacks, and neutralize Iran's malign activities.”
At least 555 people have been killed in Iran with strikes hitting multiple locations across 131 cities, Iranian Red Crescent Spokesperson Mojtaba Khaledi, said Monday. Iranian state media said some of the targeted locations were residential areas and that civilians were among the casualties.
Trump reiterated Washington's stance that Iran is one of the world’s leading “state-sponsors of terrorism,” is seeking nuclear weapons, and poses a direct threat to US forces, civilians and allies through its missile arsenal.