More than 200 US troops have been wounded across seven Middle Eastern countries, with at least 13 killed in Iran’s missile and drone onslaught plus a deadly KC‑135 crash in Iraq. CENTCOM admits many injuries are late‑reported TBIs, even as Trump quietly backs away from his pledge to personally secure the Strait of Hormuz and leans on allies to take over. With polls showing only 27% of Americans support his Iran strikes and a majority convinced he’s using excessive force, is the rising casualty toll turning Operation Epic Fury into a political liability ahead of the 2026 midterms?