WASHINGTON: The number of US troops injured by an Iranian missile strike inIraq this month has risen to 50, according to new figures released by thePentagon on Tuesday.
The personnel have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI),Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Campbell, a Pentagon spokesman, said in astatement.
The military had said on Friday that 34 troops were injured in the strikeon the Ain al-Asad base in western Iraq on January 8.
President Donald Trump had initially said no Americans were hurt by themissiles, and Democrats later accused him of trying to downplay theinjuries.
Iran fired on Iraqi bases housing US troops in retaliation for an Americandrone attack that killed Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad,raising fears of war.
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Campbell said that of the 50, 31 were treated in Iraq and returned to dutywhile 18 were being evaluated in Germany. Another was transported to Kuwaitand has already returned to duty, he said, adding that the numbers couldstill change.
At the time of the strike most of the 1,500 US soldiers at the base hadbeen in bunkers, after advance warning from superiors. -APP/AFP
