US confirms 11 troops were injured in Iran missile attack after initial claims there were no casualties

Eleven US troops were hurt in the Iranian missile strike on the Al Asad air base in Iraq despite claims by Donald Trump and the Pentagon last week that there were no casualties.

Today’s about-face announcement by US officials came after it emerged that several American soldiers had been treated for concussion.

After the January 8 attack, President Trump tweeted “all is well” and said no US servicemen or women had been killed or injured.

There are also claims that the 16 missiles fired in retaliation for America’s killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani the week before were aimed wide of the mark — as the US and Iran teetered on the brink of war.

A spokesman for the US Central Command Bill Urban said in a statement on Friday: "While no U.S. service members were killed in the Jan. 8 Iranian attack on Al Asad air base, several were treated for concussion symptoms from the blast and are still being assessed,"

As a measure of caution, some service members were taken to US facilities in Germany or Kuwait for "follow-on screening," he added.

He said: "When deemed fit for duty, the service members are expected to return to Iraq."

Following the attack the Pentagon said that no casualties had resulted from the 16 missiles fired by Iran.

The US military defines a casualty as either an injury or fatality involving personnel.

Asked about the apparent discrepancy, an official told CNN: "That was the commander's assessment at the time. Symptoms emerged days after the fact, and they were treated out of an abundance of caution."

Last week, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper had said the initial assessment found only damage to property.

"The current (Battle Damage Assessment) is, if you will, again, we can get you details, things like tentage, taxiways, the parking lot, a damaged helicopter, things like that; nothing that I would describe as major, at least as I note at this point in time. So that's the state of -- of the attack at this point as we know it. Most importantly, no casualties, no friendly casualties, whether they are US, coalition, contractor, etc.," Mr Esper said.

The news of the injuries comes after the US claimed responsibility for the drone strike on General Soleimani, claiming it as an attempt to de-escalate tensions with Iran.

But Tehran has since described it as an “act of war” and “state terrorism”.

In the days following the strike, 176 people, including four British nationals, on board the Ukrainian International Airlines flight from Tehran to Kyiv were killed when the plane came down moments after take-off.

After initially denying claims it was responsible, Iran has since admitted unintentionally shooting down the aircraft.