Traumatic Brain Injuries Emerge as Signature Wound in Iran War

US official says over 140 of 200 US troops wounded so far have suffered TBIs

Mar. 20, 2026 at 12:56am

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Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are quickly becoming the signature wound of the US war with Iran, according to a US official. More than 200 US troops have been wounded so far, with at least 140 of those being TBI-related injuries. The surge in TBIs is being driven by Iran's use of one-way attack drones and the concussive blasts they deliver in strikes against American troops across the Middle East. Symptoms of TBIs can be subtle but often linger for years, ranging from headaches and fatigue to more severe cognitive effects like memory loss and difficulty concentrating. Veterans with TBIs are also nearly twice as likely to die by suicide compared to those without a brain injury.

Why it matters

TBIs have been widely seen as a signature wound of the post-9/11 wars, as insurgent tactics have relied on explosives to target US troops. This pattern is now emerging in the US-Iran conflict, with the concussive blasts from Iran's drones causing a surge in brain injuries among American service members. These injuries can have debilitating long-term effects, both physically and mentally, underscoring the human toll of this ongoing conflict.

The details

According to the US official, more than 200 US troops have been wounded in the war with Iran so far, and at least 140 of those were TBI-related injuries. The surge in TBIs is being driven by Iran's reliance on one-way attack drones, which deliver concussive blasts in strikes against American troops in countries across the Middle East, including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.

  • In January 2020, Iran launched 15 ballistic missiles at US forces at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, in retaliation for the US drone strike that killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
  • After the 2020 attack, the Trump administration initially said no troops had been injured, but later acknowledged that 110 service members had been wounded, most suffering traumatic brain injuries.

The players

Stephen Rhoades

Ohio Army National Guard Brig. Gen. and commander of Special Troops Command.

Aaron Futrell

A 44-year-old Staff Sgt. in the Ohio Army National Guard who was near one of the missile strikes at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq in 2020 and has wrestled with lingering TBI symptoms since then.

Jayna Moceri-Brooks

A doctor who studies combat-related brain injuries.

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What they’re saying

“If they're near a blast, there should be no doubt they have a TBI. You can't escape from blast overpressure … symptoms can be debilitating.”

— Jayna Moceri-Brooks, Doctor who studies combat-related brain injuries

“It has been a huge strain on my family and me. I don't look disabled. I can act like a normal individual. I'm good until I'm not.”

— Aaron Futrell, Staff Sgt., Ohio Army National Guard

What’s next

The Pentagon has not yet commented on the surge in traumatic brain injuries among US troops in the Iran conflict.

The takeaway

The emerging pattern of traumatic brain injuries as a signature wound of the US-Iran war underscores the lasting, debilitating impact these invisible injuries can have on service members and their families, even if the injuries are not immediately visible. This highlights the need for continued research, treatment, and support for those affected by the invisible wounds of war.