Nearly 300 U.S. troops injured in US-Iran conflict- CENTCOM

The number of U.S. troops hurt in Operation Epic Fury is increasing as the fight against Iran nears its fourth week. As of Tuesday, 290 American service members have been reported injured, according to Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, who speaks for U.S. Central Command. Hawkins informed DefenseScoop that 255 of those injured, which is about 88%, have returned to their duties, while 10 are still seriously hurt. About two weeks ago, in mid-March, Centcom noted that roughly 200 U.S. service members had been wounded since the operation began on February 28. At least 13 military personnel are said to have died. President Donald Trump started Epic Fury as a campaign led by the U.S. and coordinated with Israel to eliminate Iran’s leaders, military supplies, factories, and nuclear facilities. In response, Iran has disrupted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for oil, and attacked U.S. sites in the Middle East with deadly drones and missiles. On Monday, Trump mentioned that the U.S. and Iran began productive talks to resolve the conflict. However, senior Iranian officials denied what the president said. Reports on Tuesday indicated that Iran received a message from the U.S. through mediators, which might lead to official talks between the two countries. The Army's Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) made its first appearance in combat during Epic Fury, targeting specific, undisclosed sites in Iran. This operation also marks the initial combat use of low-cost, one-way attack drones developed by the U.S., known as LUCAS. Nevertheless, this conflict is highlighting significant weaknesses the U.S. faces regarding drone threats both abroad and at home.