More than 100 U.S. service members suffered traumatic brain injuries last month as a result of an Iranian missile strike on an Iraqi base, a significant increase from initial reports that 34 service members were injured in the attack.
The Pentagon said Monday that 109 service members have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), up from the previous tally of 64 in late January.
Reuters, citing unnamed officials, first reported that the Defense Department would be announcing that the revised number.
President Trump downplayed the injuries after the Pentagon initially reported 34 service members had been diagnosed with TBIs. At the time, Trump said no U.S. service members had been injured, later adding he had “heard that they had headaches and a couple of other things.”
Veterans of Foreign Wars called on Trump to apologize for the remarks.
Iran’s attack on the Iraqi airbase was in retaliation for Trump ordering the drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani near Baghdad International Airport in early January.
“The Defense Department is steadfast in its efforts to deliver programs and services intended to lead to the best possible outcomes for our service members,” Pentagon press secretary Alyssa Farah said in a statement Monday. “We are grateful to the efforts of our medical professionals who have worked diligently to ensure the appropriate level of care for our service members, which has enabled nearly 70 percent of those diagnosed to return to duty. We must continue to address physical and mental health together.”
Updated at 4:59 p.m.