Around 150 Hanover-based Va. National Guard soldiers were in Middle East before U.S.’s recent attacks on Iran
VENN
HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Roughly 150 Hanover-based Virginia National Guard soldiers were already stationed in the Middle East before the recent attacks by the U.S. and Israel against Iran in the ongoing conflict, officials confirmed on Monday.
On Monday, March 2, a Virginia National Guard spokesperson confirmed with 8News that around 150 Virginia National Guard soldiers of the Hanover-based 229th Military Police Company were already stationed in the Middle East before recent attacks by the U.S. and Israel on Iran, with the war since intensifying.
According to the spokesperson, these Hanover soldiers had been carrying out customs operations missions since July 2025.
The death toll in the conflict has grown on all sides. Four U.S. service members have been killed in the U.S. military operation against Iran, according to a social media post by U.S. Central Command. Their identities have not yet been publicly released.
The Associated Press (AP) has reported that the Iranian Red Crescent Society said that the U.S.-Israeli operation has killed at least 555 people.
Eleven people were reportedly killed in Israel, where several places were hit by Iranian missiles.
AP also reported that the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group also targeted Israel, which responded with strikes on Lebanon, killing more than two dozen people.
In addition, AP reported that three people were killed in the United Arab Emirates, and one each in Kuwait and Bahrain.
This comes after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes over the weekend against Iran following weeks of tension between U.S. leaders and Tehran. Shortly after the strikes, Iran retaliated through attacks against Israel and Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
In the afternoon on Sunday, Feb. 27, while discussing the conflict, President Donald Trump said it was "likely" that more U.S. service members would die after the U.S. military confirmed a preliminary number of three members killed.
