US soldiers 'were hurt' in Iran missile attack
January 17, 2020
Several US soldiers were treated for concussion following last week's Iranian missile attack on two bases in Iraq, US Central Command revealed late Thursday.
Initially it was reported that were neither fatalities nor injuries, a claim backed up by US President Donald Trump.
However, Captain Bill Urban admitted: "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."
"As a standard procedure, all personnel in the vicinity of a blast are screened for traumatic brain injury, and if deemed appropriate, are transported to a higher level of care," he said.
Read more: Pro-Iranian militias: How autonomous are they?
As a result, some troops were transported from Al Asad Air Base in Iraq to Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany, while other soldiers were sent to Camp Arifja in Kuwait. These moves were a precautionary measure as the service members received "follow-on screening."
"At this time, eight individuals have been transported to Landstuhl, and three have been transported to Camp Arifjan," Urban added.
Read more: Why the US and Iran are not at war
Iran retaliation
Up to 1,500 US soldiers were deployed at the bases in the middle of Iraq's Anbar desert.
Iran fired numerous missiles at two bases hosting US forces in Iraq on January 8. Initial fears of casualties were alleviated, particularly when, the day after the attack, President Trump said the nation should be "grateful" that no Americans were hurt.
Tehran said the attack was revenge for the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani, leader of the Islamic Republic's elite Quds force, who died in a US drone strike near Baghdad's airport on January 3.
jsi/rt (dpa, Reuters)