Tampa Bay-area Iranian community reacts to US service members injured since war began

As of Friday, 365 U.S. service members have been wounded in action and at least 13 killed since the conflict began, according to the Pentagon.

TAMPA, Fla. — Nearly every week for the past month and a half, a community of Iranian-Americans in the Tampa Bay area has gathered in public demonstration, not in protest, supporting the U.S. war in Iran.

This weekend, many are expressing gratitude toward American leadership and the military members bearing the cost of the conflict.

As of Friday, 365 U.S. service members have been wounded in action and at least 13 killed since the conflict began, according to the Pentagon.

Amir Ardebily, one of the principal organizers of the local rallies, has lived in the Tampa Bay area for 41 years. Despite the mounting American casualties, he says his support for the military campaign has not wavered.

“My heart is in Iran with my heritage, but I’m an American citizen first,” Ardebily said. “I love this country, and I will fight for this country.”

For Ardebily and others in the Tampa Bay area’s estimated 4,000-strong Iranian-American community, the war represents something larger than a geopolitical conflict — it is a chance to end what he calls a tyrannical regime that has long oppressed the country of his birth.

“The way we look at it as Iranians, the way I look at it, is that I don’t support politicians. I support policies,” he said. “Therefore, I do support this policy of the United States and Israel being involved and trying to get rid of this tyrannic regime.”

The rallies have not been without emotional weight. Demonstration organizers say many social media videos circulating about conditions inside Iran are propaganda produced by the Iranian government. Communication with family members still living in Iran has also become increasingly difficult, a source of acute anxiety for local community members.

“Living in that dark — the unknown is killing us,” Ardebily said.

President Donald Trump addressed the nation Wednesday, stating that one of the primary objectives of the military campaign is to eliminate Iran’s capacity to develop a nuclear weapon. Trump has also met with families of service members killed in action in recent weeks, pledging their sacrifice would not be in vain.

“We are going to finish the job. We’re going to finish it very fast. We’re getting very close,” Trump said. “I want to thank our allies in the Middle East: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain.”

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed questions about potential escalation Monday.

“It’s the job of the Pentagon to create maximum optionality for the commander in chief,” Leavitt said. “It does not mean the President has made any additional decisions.”