Six U.S. troops suffered traumatic brain injuries as a result of the recent attacks carried out on their base by Iranian-backed militants. 

The Pentagon made the revelation on Thursday, according to Reuters.

The latest

Pentagon spokesman Brig. General Patrick Ryder provided an update on the situation.

"Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said four service members suffered traumatic brain injuries at the U.S. base near the Syrian city of Hasaka during a drone attack on March 23," Reuters reports.

Ryder, according to the outlet, also said that "two others suffered injuries at mission support site Green Village during an attack on March 24."

Reuters goes on to quote Ryder as saying, "all personnel in the vicinity of a blast are screened for traumatic brain injury. So, these additional injuries were identified during post-attack medical screenings."

Ryder also said that the six soldiers with traumatic brain injuries are all in stable condition.

Background

On Thursday, March 24, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps launched a deadly drone strike on a coalition base.

At the time, Fox News reported:

The Defense Department said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps crashed a UAV into a building near Hasakah in northeast Syria at approximately 1:38 p.m. local time, leaving one U.S. contractor dead. The attack also wounded five U.S. service members and another U.S. contractor.

This attack appears to have resulted in four of the six traumatic brain injuries that Ryder is referring to above. That's in addition to the contractor who lost his life.

The U.S. military, at the direction of President Joe Biden, responded with retaliatory strikes of its own that is believed to have killed eight militants. One airstrike was conducted at an arms depot in Harabesh, and it is said to have left six dead. And, another airstrike was carried out near Mayadeen, and it killed another two.

Ryder, on Thursday, confirmed these deaths. And, he indicated that those who were killed were associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

What now?

President Biden has insisted, in the wake of the attacks, that the United States will act forcefully, if necessary, to protect American lives. He said that American troops stationed in Syria, despite the attack, will remain there. But, Biden also has made it clear that the United States is not looking to enter into a war with Iran.

Ryder reiterated that position on Thursday, saying, "again, we do not seek conflict with Iran but we will always protect our people."