Pentagon Unaware of Iranian Casualties in Recent Strikes, Reports Reuters

Pentagon Reports on Recent U.S. Strikes in Iraq and Syria

WASHINGTON – The Pentagon stated on Monday that it was unaware of any Iranian casualties resulting from recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran-linked targets in Iraq and Syria.

On Friday, the U.S. conducted airstrikes targeting over 85 sites associated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and allied militias in response to a deadly attack on American troops.

Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder informed reporters that initial assessments indicated no Iranian deaths from the strikes. However, he acknowledged that there were likely other casualties, although no specifics were provided.

The Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq, which includes various Iran-aligned groups, reported that 16 of its members—comprising fighters and medics—were killed, stating that civilians were also among the dead.

In Syria, the strikes reportedly killed 23 individuals who were guarding the targeted sites, according to Rami Abdulrahman, the director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict in Syria.

"It’s reasonable to infer that there were likely casualties from these strikes," Ryder remarked, while noting that further assessments were still in progress.

Additionally, he mentioned that following the airstrikes, there were two attacks against U.S. troops in Syria, but fortunately, none resulted in injuries to American personnel.

The Pentagon has reiterated that it seeks to avoid conflict with Iran and does not believe Tehran desires war at this time, despite increasing pressure from Republican lawmakers on President Joe Biden to take more decisive action.