Nearly 100 US service members have been injured since early July as fighting between the United States and Iran continues to intensify, the Pentagon confirmed ahead of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s scheduled appearance before Congress.
Hegseth is expected to face lawmakers on Tuesday in his first congressional hearing since the conflict entered a more dangerous phase. The hearing comes as questions grow over the scale of the military campaign and the impact on US personnel stationed across the Middle East.
According to the Pentagon, the injuries have occurred since July 7, though officials have been criticized for delaying the disclosure of non-fatal attacks on American forces during the conflict.
Military operations expanded further late Monday after the US carried out another round of strikes against targets in Iran. Details of the latest attacks were not immediately released.
Elsewhere in the region, Jordan’s military said its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed three Iranian missiles on Tuesday, underscoring the growing threat to neighboring countries as hostilities spread beyond Iran and US positions.
The conflict also widened at sea after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement announced a maritime blockade targeting Saudi shipping. The declaration raises fresh concerns over the security of one of the world’s most important energy corridors and the potential impact on global oil markets.
Shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz continues to face increasing risks. A commercial tanker off the coast of Oman was struck by a projectile, forcing its crew to abandon the vessel, according to the United Kingdom’s maritime authorities. Two additional ships were also reportedly hit in separate incidents.
Maritime traffic through the strategic waterway has steadily declined since the collapse of the ceasefire, reflecting growing concerns among shipping operators over the worsening security situation.
The latest developments highlight the expanding scope of the US-Iran conflict, with military operations now affecting regional airspace, international shipping routes and critical energy infrastructure.
As fighting continues, lawmakers in Washington are expected to press Defense Secretary Hegseth for further details on the military campaign, troop safety and the administration’s strategy for preventing the conflict from escalating into a broader regional war.
