President Trump said that the U.S. has struck Iran hard to honor the U.S. soldiers who were recently killed in an attack by Iran.

Speaking to reporters upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews near Washington, D.C., after watching the World Cup final in New Jersey on July 19 (local time), President Trump expressed his deep regret over the deaths, stating, "It is very unfortunate."

President Trump claimed, "Those great patriots were out there fighting to ensure that Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons," adding, "Iran has been hit very, very hard and has lost almost everything militarily."

He further added, "We are controlling the (Strait of) Hormuz, and they are not controlling anything."

He then stated, "We have struck Iran hard again tonight," explaining that the action was taken to honor the three fallen soldiers.

Shortly before President Trump's remarks, the U.S. Central Command announced via social media platform X that it had begun airstrikes against Iran starting at 7:00 p.m. that day (Eastern Time).

This attack marks the ninth consecutive day of strikes based on U.S. time.

The U.S. military has been continuing its attacks using the term "retaliation" following the first U.S. combat deaths since the recent ceasefire.

Following the death of two U.S. soldiers stationed in Jordan due to an Iranian missile and drone attack on July 17, an additional U.S. soldier was killed in Iraq on July 18 while controlling and detonating an unexploded Iranian drone.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)