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By Gabe Whisnant
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About 140 U.S. service members have been wounded so far in the war with Iran, the Pentagon said Tuesday, offering the most detailed public accounting yet of American casualties from weeks of Iranian missile, rocket and drone attacks across the Middle East.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said most of the injuries have been minor, with 108 troops already returned to duty. Eight service members remain severely injured, he said. The wounded total reflects roughly 10 days of sustained attacks since the start of the conflict.
“Since the start of Operation Epic Fury, approximately 140 U.S. service members have been wounded over 10 days of sustained attacks,” Parnell told Reuters.
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Earlier Tuesday, Reuters reported that as many as 150 U.S. troops may have been wounded in the fighting since February 28. Asked about that figure, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said 150 was “in the ballpark,” underscoring the fluid nature of casualty reporting as the conflict continues.
Seven U.S. Service Members Killed
At least seven U.S. service members have been killed so far in the war, according to the Pentagon. Most of the fatalities occurred in the opening days of the conflict, when an Iranian drone strike hit a U.S. military facility in Kuwait, killing several Army Reserve troops. The seventh service member later died from wounds sustained in a retaliatory strike on a U.S. base in Saudi Arabia, U.S. officials said.
Pentagon leaders have warned that the death toll could rise as Iranian forces continue to target U.S. troops and allied facilities throughout the region.
Iran’s retaliatory campaign has included waves of missiles and drones aimed at U.S. bases, regional partners and key infrastructure across the Gulf and neighboring areas.
Widening Toll Across the Middle East
U.S. and Israeli officials say the war with Iran was launched to eliminate what they described as mounting threats from Tehran’s missile forces, regional proxy networks and nuclear threat, framing the campaign as a preemptive effort to protect Israel and U.S. forces in the Middle East. The joint operation, dubbed Operation Epic Fury by Washington, followed months of escalating tensions.
The strikes have focused not only on military infrastructure but also on Iran’s leadership, with U.S. and Israeli attacks killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a number of senior military commanders, intelligence officials and influential clerics tied to Iran’s security and nuclear apparatus, according to Iranian state media and Western officials. Those targeted included top Revolutionary Guard leaders, defense officials and close advisers to Khamenei.
The war has caused widespread death and destruction across Iran and the broader Middle East since U.S.-Israeli strikes began on February 28. Officials say at least 1,230 people have been killed in Iran alone, with hundreds more reported dead in Lebanon, Israel and Gulf countries struck by retaliatory attacks.
The Iranian ambassador to the United Nations accused the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday of ignoring the impact of U.S.‑Israeli strikes on Iran as the conflict entered its 11th day.
Amir Saeid Iravani said the council, which he described as the world body’s most powerful organ, has remained silent despite what he called grave violations of international law.
“The Council is turning a blind eye to these grave violations, despite its primary responsibility under the U.N. Charter to maintain international peace and security,” Iravani told reporters.
“Today, it is Iran,” he added. “Tomorrow, it could be any other sovereign state.”
Airstrikes and bombardments have damaged oil depots, power plants, ports, desalination facilities, schools and residential neighborhoods, triggering mass displacement and repeated airspace closures. Iranian attacks have also targeted airports, hotels and allied infrastructure, disrupting daily life and regional commerce.
The expanding conflict has rattled global energy markets, disrupted international travel and fueled growing concern among world leaders over civilian casualties and the risk of further escalation.
Meanwhile, Americans are divided along party lines on U.S. military action against Iran, according to polls conducted since the war began, with most polls showing opposition is higher than support.
U.S. Says Iranian Attacks Declining
Despite the ongoing violence, the Pentagon said Iranian strikes have dropped sharply since the war began, as U.S. forces intensify attacks on Iran’s weapons stockpiles and its limited number of missile launchers.
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Asked whether Iran has proven to be a stronger adversary than anticipated, Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine said U.S. military planners had largely expected the scale and intensity of the fighting.
“I think they’re fighting, and I respect that, but I don’t think they are more formidable than what we thought,” Caine said during a Pentagon briefing Tuesday.
U.S. officials say operations will continue as long as Iranian forces pose a threat to American troops and allies in the region, warning that additional casualties remain possible as the conflict grinds on.
Updates: 3/10/26, 4:07 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
Updates: 3/10/26, 6:23 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
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