'We're fortunate': Arizona National Guard general says soldiers are back on duty after drone attack
The Arizona National Guard said most of its members impacted by the deadly Jan. 28 drone attack on armed forces in the Middle East were back on duty.
"We're fortunate that we have the bulk that have returned to service. We're taking care of those that were injured," said Maj. Gen. Kerry Muehlenbeck, Arizona National Guard adjutant general, during a Saturday morning news conference at the Papago Park Military Reservation in east Phoenix.
Standing in front of a medevac Black Hawk helicopter inside a hangar, Muehlenbeck said the impacted Arizona National Guard members had "positive prognoses" and that a "sound recovery" was expected.
Muehlenbeck's comments come as the U.S. military on Friday and Saturday launched retaliatory attacks in response to the killing of three National Guard soldiers in the drone strike that also wounded 40 members and was carried out near the Syria border in Jordan. The culprits have been identified as Iran-backed militias.
Though most of the injured were from Arizona, those who died were from Georgia. The incident was the first in the region to cost the lives of American troops since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and its ensuing conflict.
Injured service members recovering after attack
Arizona National Guard spokesperson Capt. Erin Hannigan previously said half of the wounded Arizona service members had returned to duty, while the remaining soldiers were undergoing further evaluation and medical treatment for injuries that were not life-threatening. Injuries ranged from bumps and bruises to "typical blast injuries," Muehlenbeck said. Hannigan previously said the injuries included lacerations and possible concussions.
"Obviously the most concerning to us were those to the brain — the traumatic brain injuries," Muehlenbeck said, mentioning Guard members were still under observation for that.
The identities of the injured have not yet been released. Muehlenbeck said their ages ranged between 18 and about 50 and some have served 10 to 15 years with previous deployments.
"These kids, they know why they're there. They were excited to go when they deployed, to fight and serve their country. And so, they're back in the fight, and we couldn't be prouder of them," Muehlenbeck said. "You should have faith in our next generations when you talk to these soldiers. They have it together."
Here's what we know: Arizona National Guard members wounded in Jordan drone strike
The three soldiers killed were Sgt. William Jerome Rivers of Carrollton, Georgia; Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders of Waycross, Georgia; and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett of Savannah, Georgia. They were assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, 926th Engineer Battalion, 926th Engineer Brigade with Fort Moore, Georgia.
The bodies of the three soldiers returned to the U.S. on Friday for burial. Sanders and Moffett were posthumously promoted to sergeant rank. Rivers was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant.
The Arizona National Guard's 158th Infantry Regiment, known as the Bushmasters, deployed in September as part of 350 service members in Operation Spartan Shield. Muehlenbeck said they are there for "law and order and personal security purposes." The drone hit an installation known as Tower 22.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, Muehlenbeck said the Arizona National Guard has done nearly 12,000 deployments, and there have been several killed in action and many injured.
"Unfortunately, it's not new for us to deal with injuries or casualties," Muehlenbeck said.
Muehlenbeck said she met several times with one Bushmaster in the town of Landstuhl, Germany, where the female soldier was transferred for medical care. The general mentioned she gave the soldier a Starbucks drink. The soldier, who has not been identified, was back in the U.S. at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland, according to Hannigan.
"The solider (is) definitely in good spirits, certainly well on the road to recovery," Muehlenbeck said, adding, "That soldier has to move forward at their individual pace, which means, we heal physically, but there are still certain, some emotional or mental wounds that may surface, if not now, then later on, so we go at their pace."
US retaliates for drone strike
Pentagon officials said the enemy drone was flying at a low altitude and may have been mistaken for an American drone returning to base, and as such, no effort was made to shoot it down.
More than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria used by Iran-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard were targeted Friday in an air assault by the U.S. military. The targets included command and control headquarters, intelligence centers, rockets and missiles, drone and ammunition storage sites.
"Our response began today. It will continue at times and places of our choosing," President Joe Biden said Friday, adding, “Let all those who might seek to do us harm know this: If you harm an American, we will respond."
U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, previously expressed support for retaliation against the drone attack perpetrators.
"We cannot stand idle to terrorism. I am committed to providing the administration the needed resources to protect our troops in the region and hold Iran accountable," Gallego said in a statement released Sunday.
"These Iran-backed militias had to be held accountable for the attack that killed three U.S. servicemembers and injured dozens more, including Arizonans," said Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., in a Friday evening Facebook post. "This is a necessary response to diminish their capabilities and make clear that threats against U.S. personnel will not stand."
Strikes continued on Saturday when U.S. and British forces hit 36 targets operated by Iranian-backed Houthis located at 13 locations in Yemen.
Targets were reportedly struck by U.S. F/A-18 fighter jets and Tomahawk missiles.
USA TODAY contributed to this article.
Reach breaking news reporter Jose R. Gonzalez at jose.gonzalez@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter: @jrgzztx.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona National Guard gives update on soldiers hurt in drone attack
