The random origin and conduct of the assault on Iran has demoralized U.S. troops who have trouble understanding why they are risking danger. So far there have been at least 245 casualties, including 13 deaths.
According to HuffPost, a “military official who is treating service members evacuated from the Middle East to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany... said troops are suffering from ‘inadequate force protection and planning’ and already reporting a severe, destabilizing toll from Iranian ballistic missiles and drones that have been repeatedly striking American military facilities. A ground operation would be ‘an absolute disaster… we don’t have a plan for that'... We can’t even fully defend a single land base in the theater'.”
HuffPost’s interviews found some U.S. troops “caught up in the war are reporting vulnerability, overwhelming stress, frustration and disillusionment to the degree they may leave the military.” A veteran and reservist who mentors younger officers said: “I’m hearing out of service members’ mouths the words, ’We do not want to die for Israel—we don’t want to be political pawns'.” Mike Prysner, the executive director of the Center for Conscience and War, said his group has seen a ten-fold increase in contacts from troops. Many cite the strike on a girls school in Minab, killing 170 girls aged 7-12, as a breaking point.
