The Pentagon has raised to 50 the number of U.S. service members who suffered traumatic brain injuries in Iran's missile strike earlier this month on an Iraqi air base.
It's the third time the number of injuries has been increased.
On Thursday, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said that the department will provide an update within the day.
"With regard to another personnel issue, the department will be providing an update on TBI numbers later today, but I'd like to stress that we take this issue very seriously. DOD is a leading contributor in the treatment and research of brain related trauma. We do everything we can to identify, treat, and help our service members recover and return to duty."
The new casualty total belies President Trump's initial claim that no Americans were harmed.
Days later, the military said 11 service members had been injured and then increased the total to 34.
A Pentagon spokesman says 31 of the 50 service members have returned to duty.
The military said symptoms were no immediately apparent, and that in some cases, the concussion-like symptoms appeared days later.
After the first reports that some troops had been diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms, Trump referred to the injuries as “headaches.”
"No, I heard that they had headaches, and a couple of other things, but I would say, and I can report, it's not very serious," Trump replied during a news conference in Davos, Switzerland. (AP)
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