Number of service members with brain injuries from Iran attack rises to 64

The Pentagon announced that the number of troops suffering from traumatic brain injuries from an Iranian missile attack has increased to 64.

Defense Department spokesman Lt. Col. Thomas Campbell announced the 14-person increase in the number of troops with traumatic brain injuries, known as TBIs, in a statement Thursday night. The first reports of TBIs indicated that 34 were injured before that number increased to 50 earlier this week.

“We’ll continue to monitor them the rest of their lives, actually, and continue to provide whatever treatment is necessary,” said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley in the statement.

[ Related: 'They seemed fine': Troops who suffered brain injuries in Iran missile attacks initially had no symptoms, sources say]

Of those suffering the mild injuries, 39 have returned to duty. Twenty-one have been flown to Germany for “further evaluation and treatment.”

The Iranian missile attack hit two bases in Iraq housing U.S. forces and was a direct retaliation from Iran after the United States killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in a Baghdad drone strike.

Speaking last week, President Trump appeared to downplay the severity of those injuries by saying he “heard that they had headaches and a couple of other things.” Pentagon chief Mark Esper said Thursday that Trump is “ very concerned” about the health of troops.

“I’ve had the chance to speak with the president. He is very concerned about the health and welfare of all of our service members, particularly those who were involved in the operations in Iraq, and he understands the nature of these injuries,” Esper said.