(TheIndependentStar.com) – BREAKING NOW: During operations at the Army’s temporary aid pier in Gaza, three U.S. service members were injured, one in critical condition.
U.S. Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, deputy commander of US Central Command, disclosed that the injuries occurred while the troops were involved in delivering humanitarian aid via a newly constructed floating pier.
This incident represents the first reported injuries to U.S. forces engaged in this specific operation.
Two injuries were relatively minor; one service member sustained a sprained ankle, and another suffered a minor back injury. Both individuals have since resumed their duties. “Two were very minor, routine injuries. Those individuals returned to duty,” Cooper stated.
According to a U.S. defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the third service member was critically injured aboard a ship and subsequently evacuated to a hospital in Israel for treatment.
Joe Biden introduced the floating pier in March as part of a broader initiative to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip amidst the ongoing military operations by Israel.
Moreover, the construction and operation of the dock, which began last week, are expected to cost approximately $320 million over the first 90 days. About 1,000 U.S. service members are stationed at the site, with strict instructions not to enter Gaza itself.
The Pentagon emphasized that U.S. military personnel’s safety remains a top priority and stated, “We’re clear eyed and we continue to look at force protection all day, every day and as it stands now we assess the operations can continue.”
Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. General Pat Ryder noted that 569 metric tons of aid were successfully unloaded at the pier. However, the supplies have yet to reach the Palestinians, who are in critical need of food, water, and other essential resources.
Ryder reported that some of the trucks, managed by nongovernmental organizations responsible for transporting the aid to another staging area, had been attacked by looters.
“We do anticipate that assistance will be distributed in the coming days here, of course conditions permitting,” Ryder remarked and indicated hope for the resolution of distribution challenges.
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