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About 200 U.S. service members have been wounded since fighting between the United States, Israel and Iran began, the Pentagon said Monday.
Most injuries have been minor, and most affected troops have already returned to duty, according to U.S. Central Command.
The “vast majority” of injuries have been “minor,” and more than 180 troops have resumed their duties, U.S. Central Command spokesperson U.S. Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins said in a statement to The Hill.
The updated figures come as U.S. forces continue military operations targeting Iranian infrastructure and military assets. American strikes have focused on drone storage facilities, missile launchers and other military targets on Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, which serves as the departure point for about 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports.
Iran has continued retaliatory attacks, launching one-way attack drones and ballistic missiles aimed at Israel, U.S. bases in the region and civilian targets in Gulf countries.
The Pentagon had previously reported lower casualty numbers. Last Tuesday, officials said about 140 U.S. service members had been injured since the conflict began and that 108 had returned to duty.
At the time, Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell said eight service members had suffered severe injuries.
The death toll among U.S. forces also rose following a recent aircraft crash. Six service members were killed when a KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed over western Iraq, bringing the total number of U.S. fatalities in the conflict to 13.
The service members killed in the crash were identified as Maj. Alex Klinner, 33, of Birmingham, Alabama; Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington; Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky; Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Indiana; and Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio.
The military campaign has expanded significantly since operations began Feb. 28. According to Central Command, U.S. forces have struck more than 7,000 targets inside Iran and have damaged or sunk more than 100 Iranian vessels.
