Jaw-Dropping Scale of U.S. Troops Wounded in Trump’s Iran War Leaked as Dozens Hospitalized
The human cost of President Donald Trump’s war with Iran appears to be far higher than initially reported, with dozens of American service members now hospitalized following a deadly Iranian counterattack.
A missile strike on a U.S. tactical operations center near Kuwait City on March 1 killed six American troops and left many others seriously injured, according to a report from CBS News. The attack targeted a facility at the Shuaiba port outside Kuwait City and triggered a chaotic rescue effort as thick smoke and debris filled the building.
More than 30 service members remain hospitalized at military medical facilities, including the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center—the largest American military hospital overseas.
Medical officials say many of the injured are suffering from traumatic brain injuries, memory loss and other urgent medical conditions. Twenty soldiers transferred to Landstuhl earlier this week were classified by the military as “urgent” cases requiring immediate care.
The rescue operation after the blast was described as chaotic. Sources told CBS News that smoke and debris slowed emergency teams searching the damaged operations center. Two service members who were initially missing were later discovered trapped beneath rubble.
More than 100 medical personnel were sent to Landstuhl to help treat roughly two dozen troops transferred there from Kuwait.
The growing number of casualties comes as the White House confirmed for the first time that about 150 American service members have been wounded since the conflict with Iran began.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged the injuries earlier this week but said she could not confirm an exact total, directing reporters to the Pentagon for updated figures.
Pentagon officials later said approximately 140 U.S. troops have been injured so far. According to Defense Department spokesman Sean Parnell, the majority of the injuries were minor and more than 100 service members have already returned to duty.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously described the attack as a rare breach of U.S. air defenses. He said most incoming missiles were intercepted, but one managed to strike the fortified operations center.
The six troops killed in the attack were members of the 103rd Sustainment Command. They were identified as Capt. Cody A. Khork, Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, Sgt. Declan J. Coady, Maj. Jeffrey R. O’Brien and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan.
Another American service member, Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington of Kentucky, was killed in a separate strike in Saudi Arabia.
Beyond the human toll, the conflict is also proving costly. According to figures shared with Congress, the Pentagon used approximately $5.6 billion in advanced munitions within the first two days of the war.
Trump has acknowledged the likelihood of casualties during the conflict. After the March 1 attack, he said, “Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends. That’s the way it is.”
In a later interview, he added, “When you go to war, some people will die.”
