New this evening: Even more U.S. service members have been transported out of Iraq while suffering from concussion-like symptoms following Iran's attack on Al Asad Air Base.
washingtonpost.com/national-secur…
washingtonpost.com/national-secur…
How many more? In a statement, @CENTCOM isn't saying. Defense officials said they are not planning to disclose, but say even more could receive treatment in coming days.
@CENTCOM U.S. military officials in statement: “As medical treatment and evaluations in theater continue, additional service members have been identified as having potential injuries.”
@CENTCOM "Given the nature of injuries already noted, it is possible additional injuries may be identified in the future."
@CENTCOM First point: This appears to be additional U.S. service members getting treatment and tests for concussion symptoms.
@CENTCOM Second point: As far back as Jan. 13, U.S. military officials at Al Asad Air Base told @leloveluck and other reporters who visited after the attack that many troops were suffering from concussion symptoms. U.S. military official put the number at "dozens" in an interview.
@CENTCOM @leloveluck Third point: The Pentagon and @CENTCOM did not disclose last week that more follow-on treatment was possible. But it didn't rule it out, either.
@CENTCOM @leloveluck Fourth point: It's unclear how serious these apparent TBIs are. That can take a while to become clear. Think it's prudent to pump the brakes on saying there were only "minor injuries" until/unless more information is released.
@CENTCOM @leloveluck Fifth point: DOD attempted to explain what happened last week. Transcript is here:
defense.gov/Newsroom/Trans…
defense.gov/Newsroom/Trans…
