Washington - The US Central Command said Thursday that several
US soldiers were injured in an Iranian missile attack on two bases in
Iraq earlier this month.
"While no US service members were killed in the January 8 Iranian
attack on Al Asad Air base, several were treated for concussion
symptoms from the blast and are still being assessed," Captain Bill
Urban, spokesman for US Central Command said.
"As a standard procedure, all personnel in the vicinity of a blast
are screened for traumatic brain injury, and if deemed appropriate
are transported to a higher level of care," Urban explained.
In the days following the attack, some service members were
transported from Al Asad Air Base in Iraq to Landstuhl Regional
Medical Center in Germany, while others were sent to Camp Arifja in
Kuwait for precautionary follow-on screening, he added.
"At this time, eight individuals have been transported to Landstuhl,
and three have been transported to Camp Arifjan," the spokesman
added.
US soldiers clear rubble from a site of Iranian bombing at Ain al-Asad airbase in Anbar, Iraq. Picture: Ali Abdul Hassan/AP
Iran fired dozens of ballistic missiles at two bases hosting
US forces in Iraq on January 8. There was no immediate word on
casualties.
Blast walls of the sleeping quarters for US soldiers are seen at Ain al-Asad airbase in Anbar province, Iraq. Picture: John Davison/Reuters
Tehran said the attack was revenge for the killing of a top Iranian
general.
US soldiers stand at the site where an Iranian missile hit at Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq. Picture: John Davison/Reuters
Qassem Soleimani, leader of Iran's elite Quds force, died in a
US drone strike near Baghdad's airport in early January.