Department of Defense confirms about 140 U.S. military personnel injured in Iranian military operation

The U.S.-Iran military conflict has continued to escalate. On the 10th, the U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that approximately 140 U.S. soldiers were injured within 10 days since the U.S. military launched a military operation against Iran, with 8 people suffering serious injuries and 7 soldiers killed during the operation.

U.S. Department of Defense spokesperson Parnell (Sean Parnell) said on the 10th that since the launch of the military operation codenamed "Operation Epic Fury," there have been many casualties in the 10-day attack. He said, "Since the start of 'Operation Epic Fury,' approximately 140 U.S. service members have been injured in the 10-day continuous attack."

Parnell pointed out that most injuries are relatively minor, and 108 soldiers have returned to duty after receiving treatment. He said, "Most of these injuries are minor, and 108 service members have already returned to duty. There are still 8 service members classified as seriously injured and are receiving the highest level of medical care."

This news was first revealed by Reuters. According to the report, this number had not been disclosed before and is far higher than the numbers publicly disclosed by the Pentagon.

A U.S. official who was informed told CNN News that cases classified as "seriously injured" usually represent extremely severe injuries, which may involve life-threatening or risk of death. In addition to the number of injured, seven U.S. soldiers have died in combat so far. The body of the most recent deceased soldier was returned to the United States on Monday evening.

Military officials said that battlefield casualty data may continue to change. Because some soldiers may not seek medical attention immediately after the incident, especially those with seemingly minor injuries initially, the injury statistics often increase over time.

Meanwhile, the impact of the U.S.-Iran conflict has rapidly spread throughout the Middle East. According to the "Human Rights Activist News Agency" (HRANA), based in the United States, nearly 1,250 civilians have died in the conflict in Iran since February 28. In just the past 18 hours, new death reports have been reported in Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Israel, and Bahrain, indicating that the regional security situation continues to deteriorate.

In Washington, the White House further explained the "unconditional surrender" conditions proposed by the Trump administration. White House spokesperson Leavitt (Karoline Leavitt) said on Tuesday that Trump repeatedly required Iran to "surrender unconditionally" to reach any agreement, but this does not mean that the Iranian government needs to publicly announce its surrender.

She further said, "President Trump will decide when Iran is in a state of unconditional surrender, that is, when they no longer pose a credible and direct threat to the United States and our allies."

Aside from the military aspect, the White House also tried to respond to the impact of the war on the global energy market. Recently, international oil and natural gas prices have risen due to the tense situation in the Middle East, but Leavitt said this rise is only temporary.

Leavitt did not specify how long it would take for prices to fall, but emphasized that the government is taking measures to alleviate the energy impact caused by the war. These measures include providing insurance support for oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, as well as temporarily exempting some petroleum-related sanctions.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most important energy transportation channels in the world, with about one-fifth of the world's oil supply transported through this channel. Leavitt said the U.S. military is developing more military action plans to ensure the passage remains open.

However, the military strategy of the Trump administration is facing increasing scrutiny in Congress. Several Democratic senators, after attending a classified briefing on the U.S. military action against Iran, publicly called on the government to explain the war goals to the American people.

Senator Kaine from Virginia said the government should not only explain the situation in secret meetings, but also discuss it publicly. He said, "We want to bring this issue into the public eye and raise questions in front of the American people, which is exactly what we are asking for."

Senator Rosen from Nevada expressed doubts about the long-term goals of the war. She said, "This is worrying and disturbing. I'm not sure what the final goal is, nor do I know their plan."

Senator Warren from Massachusetts criticized the government from a financial perspective. She pointed out that the government has long used insufficient funds as an excuse to cut social spending, yet it invests huge amounts of money in the war.

Warren said, "The Trump administration constantly says there is no money for healthcare, no money for child care, and no time to focus on rising family living costs. But every day, billions of dollars are sent to the Middle East for military operations against Iran, and no one can describe the purpose of these actions, nor can anyone explain how bombing Iran alone can achieve the goals."

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1859318257684492/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.