Report: Pentagon Kept Iranian Attack on Marines Secret.
An Iranian cruise missile hit a maritime vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on September 14, injuring eight U.S. Marines, according to three U.S. officials cited by NBC News.
- 8 Marines — seven enlisted, one officer — all returned to duty shortly after the attack.
- Injuries included smoke inhalation and possible traumatic brain injuries with concussion symptoms.
- The ship was not a U.S. Navy vessel; officials declined to identify its type.
- The Defense Department made no public disclosure of the September 14 attack or any injuries.
Why it matters: The Pentagon's casualty reporting practices are under growing scrutiny from multiple directions.
- A Washington Post report found at least four service members killed in the Middle East were not reflected in the official casualty count.
- Wounded soldiers told CBS News the military downplayed their injuries; the Army disputed that characterization, saying casualty designations have specific, defined meanings.
How 5 sources split on this story
Where they split: The core dispute is whether the Pentagon has accurately and fully disclosed U.S. military casualties and incidents in the Middle East.
Right coverage, 1 sources: The right frames the story as evidence of the Pentagon concealing a direct Iranian attack on U.S. forces, compounding broader concerns about official dishonesty on military casualties.
What’s next: U.S. Central Command declined to comment; the Defense Department referred questions to CENTCOM.
- What type of vessel were the Marines operating on, and what mission were they conducting?
- Why did the Pentagon not publicly disclose the September 14 attack, and who made that decision?
- How many other undisclosed incidents may have occurred in the region during the same period?