Exclusive-As many as 150 US troops wounded so far in Iran war, sources say

By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali

WASHINGTON, March 10 (Reuters) – About 150 U.S. soldiers were injured in the 10-day war with Iran, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.

The death toll had not been previously reported. Before Reuters published the figure, the Pentagon had said only eight US personnel were seriously injured.

In a statement made after Reuters published its report, the Pentagon estimated that the number was about 140 injured and said that the majority of them were minors.

“Since the beginning of Operation Epic Rage, approximately 140 U.S. troops have been injured in 10 days of sustained attacks,” said Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman.

He said 108 of the injured soldiers returned to duty.

Parnell said the eight seriously injured soldiers received the highest level of medical care.

Reuters was unable to determine the types of injuries and whether they included traumatic brain injuries, which are common after exposure to explosions.

Iran has carried out retaliatory attacks on US military bases since the conflict began on February 28. It also attacked hotels and airports, as well as diplomatic missions in Arab Gulf countries, and damaged oil infrastructure.

The Pentagon says the number of Iranian attacks has fallen sharply since the start of the war as the U.S. military has bombed Iran’s weapons stockpile and targeted Iran’s more limited missile launchers.

He was asked whether the United States found Iran a stronger rival than it expected. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine told reporters early Tuesday that the military was preparing war plans and said the war was not harder than expected.

“I think they’re fighting, and I respect that, but I don’t think they’re any tougher than we think they are,” Caine said at a Pentagon briefing.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali, Editing by Franklin Paul and Deepa Babington)