As the U.S. war with Iran moves into its second week, the number of American troops injured in the fighting is climbing. Administration officials and Pentagon sources say roughly 140 to 150 U.S. service members have been wounded so far.
Most of the injuries are considered minor. Still, eight troops remain in critical condition.
Injury totals continue to rise
Pentagon officials say about 140 U.S. troops have been injured since the fighting began. White House officials place the number slightly higher, closer to 150.
Many of the reported injuries involve concussions or shrapnel wounds tied to Iranian missile and drone strikes on U.S. positions across the Middle East.
Officials say the total has increased gradually as doctors identify injuries that were not immediately obvious after attacks. Traumatic brain injuries, in particular, often appear hours or days later after exposure to blast waves.
Serious cases and deaths
Eight U.S. service members are currently listed as seriously wounded and receiving advanced medical care.
Seven American troops have been killed since the conflict began. Several of those deaths occurred during an Iranian drone strike on a U.S. base in Kuwait earlier in the fighting.
Six soldiers were killed in a drone strike in Kuwait:
- Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida
- Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska
- Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota
- Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa
- Maj. Jeffrey R. O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa
- Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California
Another service member died from injuries sustained in a separate attack in Saudi Arabia:
- Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Kentucky
Many troops already back on duty
Despite the rising injury count, military officials say most wounded troops have already returned to duty.
More than 100 service members have recovered enough to resume their assignments after receiving treatment. In many cases, injuries were treated quickly at field medical facilities or nearby hospitals.
Officials say rapid treatment and protective equipment have helped reduce the number of severe casualties even as attacks on U.S. facilities continue.
Where the attacks are happening
Most of the injuries have occurred during Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. bases and support facilities across the region.
Those locations include installations in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and other Middle Eastern sites used to support the U.S. war effort.
Iran has relied heavily on drones and ballistic missiles to strike American positions, forcing troops at several bases to take shelter during repeated alerts.
The bottom line
Roughly 140 to 150 U.S. troops have been wounded since the war with Iran began. Eight are seriously injured, while the majority of cases involve minor wounds such as concussions or shrapnel injuries.
Seven American service members have been killed so far in the conflict.
As of Wednesday, the estimated death toll includes at least 1,300 people in Iran, around 600 in Lebanon, and several in Israel and various Gulf states.
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