United States President, Donald Trump, on Saturday attended the return of the bodies of six American soldiers killed during the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran.
The solemn ceremony took place at Dover Air Force Base, where the remains of US service members killed overseas are typically returned.
Trump, wearing a white “USA” baseball cap and accompanied by several members of his cabinet, stood in salute as each flag-draped transfer case was carried from a military transport aircraft.
The six soldiers were killed last Sunday when a drone strike hit a key US command centre in Kuwait.
The attack occurred a day after the United States and Israel launched a large-scale military campaign against Iran, escalating tensions across the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Iran’s military called on neighbouring Azerbaijan to expel what it described as “Zionists” from its territory to prevent further instability in the region.
The appeal came a day after Azerbaijan accused Tehran of plotting attacks on its territory.
“We declare to Iran’s neighbouring country, the Republic of Azerbaijan, as a Muslim country, to expel the Zionists from that country in order to prevent the spread of insecurity in the region and not to endanger the security of its people and Islamic Iran,” a military spokesman said in a statement.
Israel is a close ally of Azerbaijan and one of its key arms suppliers. Tehran has long accused Israel of using Azerbaijani territory for intelligence operations against Iran.
Azerbaijan said on Friday that it had foiled several planned Iranian attacks on its soil, including alleged plots targeting a major oil pipeline, a synagogue and Jewish community leaders.
Tehran has not officially commented on those accusations.
Earlier, at least four drones reportedly crashed into Azerbaijan’s exclave of Nakhchivan on Thursday, including one that struck an airport.
Baku blamed Iran for the incident, while Tehran denied responsibility and accused Israel of attempting to stage a provocation to inflame tensions in the region.