Eight U.S. Marines were wounded on Sept. 14 when an Iranian missile struck a maritime vessel they were operating from in the Strait of Hormuz. Officials say the Marines suffered smoke inhalation and concussion-like symptoms but were not seriously hurt and returned to duty. The Pentagon later added the eight Marines and 29 sailors to its casualty database nearly 10 days after the incident, increasing reported wounded in the Iran conflict to 861. The official U.S. death toll remains 19, though some reports suggest a higher figure.
Sept. 14 Iranian Missile Strike in Strait of Hormuz Injures Eight U.S. Marines; Pentagon Later Adds Missing Casualties
Elizabeth Frantz / REUTERS
Eight U.S. Marines were wounded on Sept. 14 after an Iranian missile struck a maritime vessel they were operating from in the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. officials.
What Officials Say
Officials told NBC News the Marines were not seriously injured but suffered smoke inhalation and concussion-like symptoms, including headaches, raising concerns about possible traumatic head injuries. All eight—one officer and seven enlisted personnel—returned to active duty soon after the incident.
Where They Were and Why Details Are Limited
Sources said the Marines were operating as part of a battalion landing team when the missile struck. They were not aboard a U.S. Navy ship; officials declined to identify the vessel, describing it only as a maritime vessel. The Pentagon has not issued a public comment on the incident.
Details of the eight Marines’ injuries have not previously been reported. U.S. Marines are seen raising the flag at the U.S. embassy in Kuwait. / Eric Lee / REUTERS
Casualty Reporting And The Pentagon Database
Nearly 10 days after the strike, the Pentagon's public wound tally—the Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS)—quietly added 29 Navy sailors and the eight Marines without public explanation. A U.S. official told NBC News the DCAS can lag because symptoms are not always reported immediately and the system does not update in real time. A Navy spokesperson told The Daily Beast that, consistent with Department of Defense policy and privacy considerations, the identities and units of the affected sailors were not released and those sailors have returned to duty.
Broader Casualty Totals
The 37 additional wounded brought the reported total of U.S. service members injured during the conflict in Iran to 861, according to the DCAS entries, which do not specify details of each injury. The official U.S. death toll stands at 19; other outlets and officials have suggested the true number may be higher, with reports putting the toll at 22 or 23.
Most recently, the U.S. Army confirmed that Capt. Bianca Wilkerson, 37, of Norfolk, Virginia, died on Sept. 18 "as a result of a non-combat-related incident" and was posthumously promoted to major.
News organizations have contacted the Pentagon and U.S. Central Command for comment.
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