Nearly 150 U.S. service members have been wounded in the opening days of the war with Iran, according to newly disclosed figures from the Pentagon, marking the first substantial accounting of American casualties since the conflict began. The injuries have accumulated over the first ten days of combat operations, as U.S. forces conduct strikes against Iranian military infrastructure while absorbing retaliatory attacks on bases and installations across the region.
Two individuals familiar with the matter said as many as 150 American troops have been wounded since the start of the conflict on Feb. 28. Following the report, the Pentagon issued a statement estimating the total at approximately 140 wounded service members during what officials described as sustained attacks tied to the military campaign known as Operation Epic Fury. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the vast majority of those injuries were considered minor and confirmed that 108 service members had already returned to duty. Eight troops were described as seriously wounded and are receiving what the Pentagon called the highest level of medical care.
The newly disclosed numbers represent a significant increase from earlier public information about the conflict. Prior to the updated estimate, the Pentagon had only acknowledged eight U.S. personnel as seriously injured.
Hegseth on Iran:
— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 9, 2026
Things like this don’t happen without casualties. There will be more casualties.
Our generation knows what it’s like to see Americans come home in caskets. But that doesn’t weaken us one bit. pic.twitter.com/Tvouws5YCX
Speaking in an interview on 60 Minutes, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth acknowledged that additional casualties are likely as the conflict continues. “Things like this don’t happen without casualties. There will be more casualties,” Hegseth said. “Our generation knows what it’s like to see Americans come home in caskets. But that doesn’t weaken us one bit.”
Hegseth said the United States is adapting to evolving battlefield threats, particularly the rapid expansion of drone warfare that has shaped modern conflicts from Eastern Europe to the Middle East. He said the Pentagon has prioritized expanding drone capabilities to counter Iranian systems and to track mobile missile launchers, while emphasizing that U.S. forces remain committed to the mission despite the growing human toll of the conflict.
The casualties have come as Iran continues launching retaliatory attacks against U.S. positions in the region. Iranian forces have also carried out strikes against diplomatic facilities in Arab Gulf states and targeted infrastructure including hotels, airports, and oil installations. Pentagon officials say the pace of Iranian strikes has declined in recent days as U.S. forces conduct bombing campaigns against missile launch sites and weapons stockpiles.