Nearly 100 American service members were injured in the past two weeks following the resumption of hostilities between the US and Iran, the Pentagon reported on Monday. The announcement coincided with Washington’s tenth consecutive evening wave of strikes on Tehran.
Pentagon spokesman Shawn Parnell stated that “while nearly 100 service members have been injured to varying degrees of severity since July 7, 2026, 96% of them have already returned to duty. They are determined to resume their missions.” He noted that the majority of injuries were related to “mild concussions.” This information was released following the deaths of three American service members shortly after the ceasefire collapsed.
Killed service members and Trump’s reaction
Two US service members were killed in Jordan on Friday “while US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces and partners defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks.” Another American service member died on Saturday in northern Iraq during a “controlled detonation of an unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian attack drone,” according to CENTCOM.
The Pentagon identified the deceased as: First Lieutenant Tyler James Fihan, 25, from Eva Beach, Hawaii; Private Isabella Gonzalez, 19, from Carrollton, Texas; and Sergeant Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, from Fayetteville, North Carolina. President Donald Trump referred to the fallen soldiers as “great patriots” and asserted that “every time Iran kills an American soldier, it will pay a much higher price for it.”
In total, Pentagon estimates indicate that about 447 American service members have been injured since the first US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.
Political tension and calls to end the war
Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer reiterated late Monday his call for an immediate end to the war with Iran, highlighting the escalating human cost. “Every second that Trump continues his war in Iran is another second our service members remain in danger,” Schumer said.
He added that “Senate Democrats will push Republicans for a new vote to end this war and bring our troops home. Enough. End this war.”
Last month, the House of Representatives and the Senate passed resolutions under the War Powers Act aimed at restricting Trump’s ability to continue military action. Democratic Senator Adam Schiff of California introduced a new war powers resolution last week.
Donald Trump informed Congress on July 10 about the resumption of hostilities—a move his administration views as the beginning of a new 60-day period during which the US can conduct military operations against Iran without new congressional approval. Democratic lawmakers have rejected this stance and are calling for a new vote.
Upcoming congressional hearings
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will address lawmakers at the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Tuesday. He will be joined by Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Kane and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. The meeting will discuss Trump’s request for additional funding, part of which will be allocated to support military operations against Iran.
Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, a committee member, stated he plans to ask Hegseth: “What is the goal of this war and how do you intend to end it?” The senator also advocates for a new vote on the war powers resolution.
A memorandum of understanding signed on June 17 temporarily suspended hostilities, establishing a 60-day ceasefire for further negotiations. However, hostilities resumed on July 7 following reports of strikes on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. After that, Trump declared that the ceasefire was “over.” Since then, both sides have conducted new strikes, and Tehran has targeted US military facilities in neighboring Persian Gulf countries, further escalating regional instability.
Source: Time
