No US Troops In War Zones: Kamala Harris Under Intense Fire for Controversial Claim As Over 3,500 are in Dangerous Areas

Family members of US troops injured in the line of duty are voicing their anger after Vice President Kamala Harris claimed during a televised debate that no Americans are currently serving in active combat zones.

This statement contradicts official information from her administration, which recognizes several regions where U.S. service members are at risk, receiving “hostile fire” or “imminent danger pay.”

Harris’ Controversial Debate Statement On US Troops

During Tuesday’s debate on ABC, Vice President Harris asserted that under the Biden-Harris administration, no US troops are stationed in combat zones for the first time in this century.

Addressing an audience of 67 million viewers, she declared, “As of today, there is not one member of the United States military who is in active duty in a combat zone, in any war zone around the world.”

Her comment aimed to highlight what she portrayed as a new era of peace under the current administration.

However, this assertion comes into direct conflict with information provided by the Department of Defense.

More than 50,000 U.S. service members are currently deployed in the Middle East and Africa, where they face threats from hostile forces, according to retired Army Col. Jonathan Sweet.

Many of these US troops are receiving extra pay for being stationed in hazardous environments.

Families Speak Out

For families of US troops stationed in these dangerous regions, Harris’ words rang hollow. Brad Illerbrunner, whose son was critically injured in Iraq last Christmas, was outraged.

His son, Chief Warrant Officer Garrett Illerbrunner, was wounded when a drone launched by the terror group Kataib Hezbollah struck the Erbil Air Base.

Illerbrunner remarked, “We’re still in war zones,” accusing Harris of misleading the public.

His son, along with other soldiers, had sustained serious injuries in what he described as an active war zone.

Holly Davis, whose husband is currently deployed in Syria as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, echoed these frustrations.

“It’s very hurtful that someone who is currently our vice president is making these claims when my husband is literally sacrificing his life every day over in the Middle East,” she said.

Davis recalled a harrowing phone call during which her husband’s base came under attack by a drone.

The constant threat of violence weighs heavily on families like hers, despite Harris’ statements.

Combat Zones and Official Designations

The Biden-Harris administration’s own official documents acknowledge that US troops are stationed in areas classified as combat zones.

According to the IRS, soldiers deployed in these regions, including Iraq and Syria, are eligible for tax exemptions due to the dangers they face.

There are roughly 2,500 US troops in Iraq and another 1,000 in Syria, who are part of the international efforts to combat ISIS.

These areas are classified as hostile environments, meaning soldiers stationed there face real and ongoing threats from enemy forces.

Many have already been injured or killed in attacks over the past year.

In January, three National Guard members were killed, and dozens of others wounded, during a drone strike on a U.S. base in Jordan. Similarly, a joint U.S.-Iraqi operation in August resulted in seven U.S. soldiers being injured by ISIS fighters.

Military Experts Weigh In

Military experts and analysts have criticized the vice president’s choice of words. Michael DiMino, a fellow at the think tank Defense Priorities, pointed out that Harris’ statement doesn’t align with the realities on the ground.

“If you’re in Jordan in the middle of nowhere to fight ISIS, and you’re getting attacked by Iranian drones and rockets on a daily basis, you’re in a war zone,” DiMino said.

He accused Harris of using a “quibbling” definition to imply the U.S. is not engaged in military conflict, while American soldiers continue to face combat-related threats.

Jonathan Sweet emphasized that US troops in these regions are not simply stationed in peaceful posts—they are regularly subjected to the risk of enemy fire.

“American men and women in uniform are getting shot at on a daily basis,” Sweet explained. “Many, just in the last eight months, have died or been injured.”

Harris Campaign Defends Statement

In response to the backlash, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign reiterated the vice president’s claim that the U.S. is not currently involved in any wars.

However, the spokesperson did acknowledge that US troops stationed around the world are still taking significant risks.

“Our troops should be honored no matter where they serve,” the statement read, though it stopped short of addressing the specific criticisms from military families.

A Defense Department official also weighed in, emphasizing that while American service members are deployed in hazardous areas, this does not necessarily mean the U.S. is engaged in a formal war.

However, for families like the Illerbrunners and the Davises, the threat to their loved ones is very real, and they feel it should not be downplayed.

Also Read: Big Blow to ISIS: Four Top Terrorists Were Killed in August 29 Iraq Raid, US Military Confirms