U.S. media reports say the Pentagon has revealed that 11 U.S. service members received treatment for concussions from an Iranian missile strike on two U.S. bases in Iraq on January 8, despite US earlier saying no troops were wounded in the attack.
The US military acknowledged on January 16 that 11 soldiers were wounded in an Iranian missile strike on Al Asad air base in Iraq, despite previously saying that there had been no injuries.
The New York Times reported on January 13 that U.S. soldiers were treated for concussions after the attack. The Pentagon confirmed the report on January 16 and said nearly a dozen troops were medevaced to Germany this week for treatment.
“While no US service members were killed in the January 8 Iranian attack on Al Asad Air base, several were treated for concussion symptoms from the blast and are still being assessed,” a statement from the US Central Command said, according to Washington Examiner.
Eight soldiers were reported transported to Germany and three were sent to Camp Arifjan in Kuwait for follow-on screening.
At the time of the attack, most of the 1,500 US soldiers at the base had been tucked away in bunkers, after advance warning from superiors.
Tehran launched ballistic missiles at two Iraqi military bases were U.S. soldiers were stationed on January 8. Iran launched the attack in retaliation for a January 2 U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad.
Top US officials, including US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Mark Esper said several times that there were no US casualties in the missiles strikes on two US bases.
Military officials reportedly explained the discrepancy, saying that their symptoms had only recently developed.
