22/07/2026
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22/07/2026
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WASHINGTON, Jul 22: Nearly 100 US service members have been injured during the past two weeks of conflict with Iran, the Pentagon said, as attacks on American forces across the Middle East intensify.
Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell said on Monday that the vast majority of injuries involved minor concussions and that 96% of affected troops have already returned to duty.
The announcement comes amid questions over the official tracking of US military casualties. The Defense Casualty Analysis System, which normally records troops killed or wounded in action, appeared to be delayed in reflecting recent battlefield developments.
Before Parnell’s update, the database showed no US troops wounded in action in July. By Tuesday, it listed 32 wounded service members, still significantly below the nearly 100 injuries disclosed by the Pentagon spokesman.
According to Pentagon figures, 18 US service members have been killed and 447 injured as part of Operation Epic Fury. Based on Parnell’s statement, the total number of wounded could exceed 500.
Deadly Attack in Jordan
The latest casualties include an attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, where two US Army air defenders were killed and four others injured, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM).
The two soldiers killed were identified as 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19.
The Pentagon has not disclosed details of several other reported attacks, including dozens of injuries, according to reports. Parnell previously rejected claims of withheld information, calling such reports “outright lies.”
The locations of many of the injuries disclosed by Parnell remain unclear.
In another incident, a US service member in Iraq was killed during the controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone, CENTCOM said. Military officials are also working to identify the remains of a possible third US service member killed in Jordan.
US Continues Strikes on Iran
The Pentagon’s announcement came as US forces carried out their 10th consecutive day of strikes against Iran, targeting coastal surveillance facilities, air defence systems and military logistics infrastructure, according to CENTCOM.
President Donald Trump warned Iran following the deaths of US troops, saying: “Every time Iran kills an American soldier they will pay for that killing many times over.”
The United States and Iran began exchanging strikes after both sides accused each other of violating a June ceasefire agreement.
Regional Conflict Expands
The conflict has spread across the region, with Iran-linked groups increasing activity around key waterways.
Iran has resumed targeting oil tankers operating near the Strait of Hormuz, while the US Navy has reinstated a blockade on Iranian ports.
The Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen has also threatened to block Saudi shipping routes in the Red Sea, further raising concerns over regional maritime security.
Diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, address Iran’s nuclear programme and reach a permanent ceasefire remain stalled as the conflict enters its fifth month.
