Eight US Marines injured in Iranian missile attack in Strait of Hormuz

NBC News has reported that eight US Marines—including seven enlisted personnel and one officer—were injured in an Iranian cruise missile attack targeting a vessel they were serving on in the Strait of Hormuz on September 14. The incident was not officially disclosed by US authorities at the time.

According to the network, citing three US officials, the injuries were not severe. The Marines suffered smoke inhalation and symptoms consistent with concussion, such as headaches, raising concerns about possible traumatic brain injuries. The officials added that the injured personnel returned to duty shortly after the incident.

The report noted that the Marines were part of a landing team from a Marine battalion and were not aboard a US Navy ship. Officials did not disclose the vessel's name, type, or ownership, describing it only as a "naval vessel."

Official procedures and delayed disclosure

The US Department of Defense did not announce any attack on its forces in the region on September 14. A spokesperson for US Central Command declined to comment, while the Pentagon referred questions about the incident to Central Command.

According to the report, the injuries were added to the Pentagon’s Defense Casualty Analysis System about ten days after the attack. As of Wednesday, the system recorded 861 US military personnel injured during the conflict with Iran.

One US official noted that delays in recording some injuries are common, as certain symptoms—especially those related to brain injuries—may not appear immediately, and the database is not updated in real time. Publicly available records do not include details on the location, timing, or circumstances of injuries.

Rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz

The incident comes as US forces maintain a naval blockade on Iranian ports via the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to prevent commercial vessels from entering or leaving Iranian harbors. According to a US official cited by the network, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps continues to attempt attacks on vessels almost daily, coinciding with a gradual increase in commercial shipping traffic through the strait.