Military casualties mount and global oil markets face disruption amid escalating US-Iran conflict.
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The Pentagon confirmed Tuesday that approximately 140 US service members have been wounded in the ongoing military operations against Iran, with injuries ranging from burns and brain trauma to shrapnel wounds. Dozens of troops stationed in Kuwait suffered serious injuries during what the Pentagon described as the "most intense" strikes on Iranian targets. The casualty figures represent the first official acknowledgment of significant American military injuries in the conflict.
The escalation follows weeks of mounting tensions between Washington and Tehran, marking the most serious direct military confrontation between the two nations in decades. The conflict has disrupted global energy markets and raised concerns about broader regional stability in the Middle East.
In response to market volatility, G7 leaders announced a record release of 400 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves, equivalent to approximately 20 days of typical traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The emergency measure aims to stabilize energy prices as the crucial shipping route faces heightened security risks from potential Iranian strikes.
A preliminary US military investigation reportedly found American forces responsible for a February 28 missile strike on an Iranian elementary school that killed at least 175 people, mostly children. The strike on Shajarah Tayyebeh school was attributed to a targeting error by military planners, according to unnamed officials cited by the New York Times.