Pentagon: 109 soldiers suffered brain injuries during Iranian missile attacks

The US Department of Defense has confirmed that the number of soldiers who have suffered traumatic brain injuries and injuries following IRGC missile attacks has reached 109. The last time this number was 64, it has now nearly doubled.

On February 11, hours before the Pentagon announced the number of injured recruits, Reuters reported that the number of injured was about 50 percent higher than previously announced.

The US Department of Defense, which had previously said that the complications of this type of brain injury occur gradually and that the number of personnel suffering from it may increase in the future, has now confirmed that the number of injured people has reached 109.

The Associated Press news agency, citing US Defense Department officials, added that the number of injured may continue to rise.

According to the Associated Press, citing the Pentagon, 74 soldiers who suffered traumatic injuries have returned to duty.

At the same time, 26 others are receiving treatment in Germany or the United States, and seven others have traveled to Germany from Iraq to be examined for possible injuries.

General Mike Milley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the consequences and traumatic injuries caused by the IRGC missile attacks may not become apparent for a year or two in some cases.

The US Joint Chiefs of Staff commander added that the country's military is still in the early stages of examining and treating soldiers.

A Pentagon spokesman said in a statement on Monday, February 11, that the treatment and care of soldiers by specialists has resulted in "nearly 70 percent of those diagnosed with [traumatic brain injuries] returning to duty."

On January 8, the Revolutionary Guards launched missile attacks on two bases used by the United States in Iraq in response to the killing of Qassem Soleimani in an attack ordered by Donald Trump in Baghdad. The attacks did not cause any casualties among American forces.

Last month, US President Donald Trump downplayed the serious injuries suffered by US personnel and forces as a result of these attacks, saying: "I heard they have headaches and other things."

Reuters, citing data from the US Department of Defense, says that since 2000, about 408,000 US soldiers have suffered traumatic brain injuries.

Source: Radio Farda