Under criticism for suppression of information, the US Defense Department said it had not been trying to withhold or underplay the number of injuries from Iran's retaliatory missile attacks against US bases in Iraq on January 8.

Iran Press/ America: Pentagon Spokesman Jonathan Hoffman made the denial on Friday after about one week of secrecy through which US officials insisted that the attack had not killed or injured any American troops.

To avenge the US strike that assassinated Iran’s counter-terrorism Commander of Quds Force Lt. General Qassem Soleimani, IRGC launched 16 missiles targeting US bases in Iraq, including al-Asad airbase where approximately 1,000 U.S. troops were stationed.

US Military sources disclosed on Thursday that earlier official reports were not true as 11 US servicemen were treated for concussive symptoms outside Iraq.

CENTCOM spokesman Navy Capt. Bill Urban said some troops were transported out of Iraq to receive additional medical assistance for concussion symptoms from the blast and are still being assessed.

Urban said that eight service members were taken to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, and another three were moved to Camp Arifjan in Kuwait for additional screening.

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