Commanders Actions minimized Injuries: Eleven service members Injured in Missile Attack 8 Jan on Al Asad Air Base suffered concussions

SecDef: 7 Jan At approximately 5:30 p.m. (EST) on January 7, Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. military and coalition forces in Iraq.  It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting U.S. military and coalition personnel at Al-Assad and Irbil. 

We are working on initial battle damage assessments.

In recent days and in response to Iranian threats and actions, the Department of Defense has taken all appropriate measures to safeguard our personnel and partners. These bases have been on high alert due to indications that the Iranian regime planned to attack our forces and interests in the region.

As we evaluate the situation and our response, we will take all necessary measures to protect and defend U.S. personnel, partners, and allies in the region.

Due to the dynamic nature of the situation, we will continue to provide updates as they become available. 

The Latest Assesmennt:

DOD Commends Commanders’ Actions in Missile Attack

JAN. 17, 2020 | BY CLAUDETTE ROULO , DO

Commanders in Iraq took every necessary step to ensure the safety of U.S. forces during the Jan. 8 missile attack by Iran on Al Asad Air Base, Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Alyssa Farah said today.

Pentagon leaders were notified yesterday that several service members were examined for concussions following the attack, Farah told members of the Pentagon press corps.

“This is in line with reporting requirements, and the commander on the ground took the appropriate steps to ensure the service members received the appropriate level of care,” she said. “We fully expect the service members to return to their duty when deemed medically able.”

Military regulations require that the Pentagon be immediately notified of injuries to U.S. military personnel when there is a threat to life, limb or vision, Farah said. Concussions aren’t usually reported to the defense secretary, she said, but because of public interest, officials sought out additional information.

Additionally, some of the injured personnel didn’t report their symptoms immediately after the attack, said Jonathan Rath Hoffman, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs. 

“Either they had concussion symptoms that appeared shortly after the attack, and did not diminish and, therefore they’ve been sent on for further evaluation, or they have concussion symptoms … that only manifested later, and therefore have caused medical personnel on the ground to move them onward for examination,” he said.

Most of the personnel examined after the attack needed no additional medical attention, Farah said. “However, a number of service members continued to display concussion-like symptoms days after the attacks and reported them to their chain of command,” she said.

Eleven service members needed further evaluation, she said. Of those, Farah said, eight were transported to Landstuhl, Germany, where MRI equipment is available, and three were transported to Kuwait for observation.