Iranian Missile Attack In 2020 Reveals Hidden Dangers For US Troops In Likelihood Of A Clash With Russia Or China

The Iranian ballistic missile strike in Iraq in January 2020 gave a worrying preview of hidden yet enduring injuries for U.S. troops in future conflicts, Business Insider reported.

The attack in 2020 was Iran’s retaliation for the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. The Al Asad air base, hosting hundreds of U.S. soldiers, was struck by 11 ballistic missiles, marking a historic event as “the largest ballistic attack against Americans in history.”

Despite receiving a few hours’ warning, the base lacked air defenses capable of intercepting missiles. When the missiles rained down, U.S. soldiers were knocked out of guard towers while others sheltered in bunkers. Miraculously, no fatalities or severe physical injuries were reported.

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However, 109 American personnel were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), likely causing recurring headaches and PTSD-related symptoms for life.

U.S. Army Major Robert Hales, the highest-ranking medical doctor on the base, admits there is limited knowledge of the brain traumas caused by such attacks. An August report by the Journal of the American College of Surgeons suggests TBIs will become “more prevalent” among U.S. troops in conflicts against near-peer adversaries.

The report also described the Al Asad attack as a “rare modern instance” of U.S. troops facing near-peer adversary-level weapons and suffering significant TBIs. It underscores the need for new techniques to prevent and treat TBIs as the likelihood of conflicts with near-peer adversaries rises.

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Photo by R Kulawiak on Shutterstock