"The Pentagon's Mysterious Silence Amidst a Secret War and Strange New Wounds"

A secret U.S. offensive strategy against the Islamic State in 2016 and 2017 involved minimal American boots on the ground and relentless artillery fire. However, the troops who carried out the firing suffered devastating mental and physical problems, including nightmares, panic attacks, depression, and hallucinations. The military struggled to understand the cause of these issues, as the gun crews were miles away from the front lines and did not experience direct combat injuries. A study conducted by the Marine Corps found that the gun crews were being harmed by their own weapons, with more than half of the Marines in one unit receiving diagnoses of traumatic brain injuries. Despite these findings, the military treated the injuries as routine psychiatric disorders and failed to provide adequate support and treatment. Many affected veterans have experienced homelessness and a significant number have died by suicide. The military is only beginning to recognize the long-term effects of repeated blast exposure and develop protocols to protect troops.