Dozens more U.S. service members have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries following last month’s Iranian missile attacks that targeted American forces at two Iraqi bases, the Defense Department said Monday, bringing the total to 109.
Of those, 76 patients have since been returned to duty, the Pentagon said in a statement. There were 45 more cases since the department’s last report, and all 109 patients have been diagnosed with what it called “mild traumatic brain injury.”
“This is a snapshot in time and numbers can change,” the Defense Department said.
Iran launched ballistic missiles against the two Iraqi bases on Jan. 8 in retaliation for the United States’ killing of Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force, in a drone operation outside Baghdad’s airport.
In late January the Pentagon had reported a total of 64 cases.
