Eight U.S. Marines were injured when an Iranian anti-ship cruise missile struck a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month, according to a new report citing three U.S. officials. The September 14 attack was not publicly disclosed by the Defense Department at the time.
The Marines suffered smoke inhalation and symptoms consistent with concussions, including headaches, according to the officials cited by NBC News. Some were considered possible traumatic brain injury cases. None of the eight was seriously injured, and all returned to duty shortly after the attack.
Seven of the Marines were enlisted personnel and one was an officer. They were serving as part of a battalion landing team when the missile hit. Officials said they were not aboard a U.S. Navy ship but did not identify the vessel or say what type of ship it was.
The eight injuries were added to the Pentagon’s Defense Casualty Analysis System nearly 10 days after the attack. The database listed 861 U.S. service members injured in the conflict with Iran as of Wednesday. One U.S. official said some injuries, particularly concussion symptoms, can take time to appear and that the casualty database is not updated in real time.
The disclosure comes amid broader scrutiny over how U.S. military casualties from the Iran conflict are being classified and reported. U.S. Central Command declined to comment on the September 14 attack when questioned about the incident.
The Readovia Lens
The significance of the September 14 attack extends beyond the eight Marines who were injured. An Iranian missile struck a vessel carrying American service members in one of the world’s most important waterways, yet the incident did not become public until two weeks later through reporting based on U.S. officials.
