140 US Soldiers Wounded, 8 Severely [Update]

Before the loss of more U.S. soldiers, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday morning that “today will be yet again our most intense day of strikes inside Iran.” During the same Pentagon briefing, the Joint Chiefs chairman said the missile attacks from Iran had dropped 90 percent.

“We’re crushing the enemy in an overwhelming display of technical skill and military force. Today will be yet again our most intense day of strikes inside Iran: the most fighters, bombers, the most strikes, intelligence more refined and better than ever,” Hegseth said.

140 US Soldiers Wounded

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell says 140 US soldiers were wounded in the war with Iran.

“The vast majority of these injuries have been minor, and 108 service members have already returned to duty. Eight U.S. service members are severely injured,” he says.

Additionally, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia lost seven soldiers.

Iran War Tuesday Update

Also on Tuesday, Iran launched strikes on Israel and Gulf countries, maintaining pressure in the Middle East.

The United Arab Emirates’ Defense Ministry reported nine drones hit the area, causing two more deaths. In Bahrain, authorities said an Iranian attack killed one and wounded eight others. Saidi Arbia destroyed two drones, and Kuwait’s National Guard said it shot down six.

On Monday, Trump delivered contradictory messages when he told Republican lawmakers the war would be a “short excursion,” but hours later posted on social media that the U.S. will dramtically increase the strikes on Iran if they closed the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump also announced the US military “completely destroyed” 10 inactive Iranian mine-laying vessels and there would be “more to follow.”

This was shortly after Trump posted on social media that there were no reports of explosive mines in the Strait of Hormuz, but warned Iran to move them if they did.

Iranian Relatiation

Iranian officials state they are determined to make the U.S. and Israel pay for the devastation caused by their airstrikes. Over a thousand people have been killed in the attacks, including several top leaders, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and the wife, son, and mother of his son, the new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Speaker of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, posted on social media, “We believe we must strike the aggressor in the mouth so that it learns a lesson and never again even thinks of aggressing against our dear Iran.”

The Fallout

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that the air strikes on oil facilities could cause respiratory problems due to the release of toxic compounds in the air, including “black rain.”

During a press briefing, WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said the black and acidic rain falling in Tehran is “indeed a danger” for the people in Iran. Authorities advised citizens to remain inside.

Lindmeier said, “We are in touch with the hospitals and with the authorities, and the Iranian authorities have issued an alert advising people to stay indoors, in light of the attacks on oil warehouses, especially.”

Oil infrastructure strikes in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have also raised concerns of “wider regional pollution exposure.”

Inhaling or touching the smoke could cause headaches, skin and eye irritation, and difficulty breathing, according to scientists.

Sources:

AP News: Live updates: About 140 US soldiers wounded in Iran war, 8 severely, Pentagon says
USA Today: US launches its ‘most intense day of strikes’: Iran war live updates

Featured Image by Sgt. David Resnick Courtesy of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License