The Pentagon reports nearly 100 US troop injuries amid Iran war
The Pentagon says nearly 100 US service members have been injured since July 7 as the US-Iran conflict intensifies, with most wounds described as minor concussions. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is due to face senators as the Trump administration seeks tens of billions more for the war and energy markets react.
Key Takeaways
- The Pentagon says almost 100 US troops have been injured since July 7, mostly with minor concussions.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will testify before a Senate panel for the first time since the conflict escalated.
- Three US service members have been killed in recent days in Jordan and Iraq amid Iranian attacks.
- Oil prices rose after Iran-backed Houthis warned Saudi vessels away from the Red Sea.
- Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain reported intercepting Iranian aerial attacks as US strikes entered a 10th night.
How many US troops has the Pentagon reported injured?
According to CNN, a Pentagon spokesperson said nearly 100 American service members have suffered some level of injury since July 7. Most of those injuries were described as minor concussions.
CNN also reported that the US military has been slow to disclose non-fatal injuries to troops, saying the delay was intended to protect service members. The figure comes as Washington and Tehran exchange another round of strikes.
Why is Defense Secretary Hegseth facing senators now?
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to appear before a key Senate panel for the first time since the US-Iran conflict escalated. The Trump administration has been lobbying members of Congress for tens of billions of dollars to fund the ongoing war with Iran.
The hearing lands after a grim stretch for US forces. The Pentagon identified Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton of Fayetteville, North Carolina, who was killed in Iraq on July 19 during a controlled detonation of a downed Iranian one-way attack drone. Two other soldiers, Pte Isabella Gonzales, 19, and Lt Tyler James Feehan, 25, were killed in Iranian strikes on Jordan, the BBC reported.
President Donald Trump has warned that Iran will pay "many times over" for the deaths of US soldiers. A dignified transfer for killed service members was expected to take place Wednesday, a Trump administration official told CNN.
How are oil and shipping markets reacting to the conflict?
Energy markets are under fresh pressure as the conflict widens. Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen have warned Saudi vessels to refrain from using the Red Sea, a move CNN said helped push oil prices higher. Attacks and claims around the Strait of Hormuz continue to squeeze commercial shipping.
The British maritime authority said the crew of a vessel reportedly struck in the strait on Monday abandoned ship and were in a lifeboat. Daily traffic through the waterway has dropped sharply, with MarineTraffic data cited by CNN showing just nine vessels passing on Monday.
For readers tracking how geopolitics ripples into digital assets and risk appetite, follow our Fintech & Crypto Alerts coverage. Jordan's armed forces said they intercepted three Iranian missiles on Tuesday with no casualties, while Kuwait and Bahrain also reported intercepting aerial attacks after a tenth consecutive night of US strikes on Iranian targets.