More than 300 US troops injured since start of Iran war, most have returned to duty

By AFP 27 March 2026, 8:29 pm

Edit

Illustrative: In this January 25, 2018 photo, American troops coordinate with Iraqi counterparts to launch airstrikes and artillery from a small complex in the town of Qaim, Iraq. (AP Photo/Susannah George)

More than 300 US troops have been wounded since the start of the Iran war on February 28, US Central Command says.

“Since the start of Operation Epic Fury, approximately 303 US service members have been wounded. The vast majority of these injuries have been minor, and 273 troops have returned to duty,” US Navy Captain Tim Hawkins says.

A US official who asks not to be identified tells AFP that 10 troops remain seriously wounded.

A further 13 troops have been killed in the war, according to the latest figures, with seven killed in the Gulf and six in Iraq.

In a separate development today, Iran’s military says that hotels housing US soldiers in the region will be considered targets.

“When all the Americans (forces) go into a hotel, then from our perspective that hotel becomes American,” armed forces spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi told state television yesterday.

Iran’s government has not released an updated casualty toll, but a US-based activist group said on March 23 that some 1,167 Iranian troops had been killed and the status of 658 troops is unknown. AFP is not able to independently verify tolls in Iran due to reporting restrictions.