The Pentagon spokesperson told CBS that about 100 US service members were wounded in Iranian attacks on US bases in the Middle East this month, and that most have returned to duty. The figure matches earlier reports from CBS citing US officials.
The Pentagon spokesperson officially confirmed to CBS on Monday evening that nearly 100 US service members were wounded in Iranian attacks on US bases in the Middle East this month, and that most have returned to duty. The on-record statement corroborates the figure that CBS had reported earlier Monday, citing unnamed US officials — a report that The Zioneer covered at 22:47 Jerusalem.
The thread of reporting on US casualties in the Iran conflict unfolded throughout Monday. At 12:24 Jerusalem, The Zioneer published a series of dispatches: The New York Times investigation revealed that the Pentagon had concealed and downplayed the severity of dozens of injuries; data from the Associated Press indicated over 400 US troops wounded; US Central Command then officially confirmed that figure; and CBS reported that nearly 100 of those wounds occurred in the past month, with 90% of the wounded returned to duty. The Pentagon's confirmation now places the most recent month's toll on the record.
The broader casualty picture has been documented by The Zioneer over recent weeks. On July 18, the Pentagon provided a breakdown of 13 service members wounded in a specific attack, and on June 24, wounded soldiers told CBS that the Pentagon had minimized their injuries. On the Iranian side, the Health Ministry confirmed 38 dead and over 400 wounded in US strikes on July 17.
The Pentagon's official confirmation does not address the severity of the wounds reported in this latest month, a point of contention after the NYT investigation found systemic downplaying of injury classifications.
8 developments
- DevelopingPentagon provides breakdown of 13 US service members wounded in Iranian attacks
- DevelopingUS soldiers say Pentagon downplayed their injuries after Iran drone strike in Kuwait
- StrongNew York Times reports dozens of US soldiers wounded in Iranian attacks in Jordan
- DevelopingWSJ: Iranian missiles hit soldiers' quarters, sports hall at Jordan base, causing US casualties
Source and signal
- Internal intake