Updated casualty figures spark questions over changes to official records
WASHINGTON: At least 624 US military service members have been wounded since President Donald Trump ordered strikes against Iran in February, according to the Pentagon’s latest casualty update released on July 25.
The Defence Department said 417 of the wounded were linked to Operation Epic Fury, while another 207 were listed under a separate category titled “Overseas Operations.”
The United States and Iran agreed to a ceasefire in April and signed a Memorandum of Understanding in June. However, both sides have accused each other of carrying out attacks despite those agreements.
The Pentagon also revised its casualty figures last week, transferring four fatalities from Operation Epic Fury to the Overseas Operations category. As a result, the reported death toll for Operation Epic Fury fell from 18 to 14.
Critics question casualty revisions
The changes drew criticism from some former military officials and lawmakers, who argued that altering casualty classifications without explanation undermines transparency.
Retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges said the administration had struggled to communicate openly about the conflict, while Republican Congressman Thomas Massie described the separation of casualties into different categories as an “absurd ruse” in a post on X.
The BBC reported that it had sought comment from the US Department of Defense regarding the revisions.
Pentagon cites temporary data issues
Responding to concerns, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said on X that the changes resulted from “temporary data disruptions” and that officials were working with military services to resolve the issue.
According to the updated records, the four service members whose names were removed from Operation Epic Fury now appear under Overseas Operations, which the Pentagon says covers casualties from July 7 onwards.
Reports indicate that three US soldiers were killed during Iranian missile strikes on a military base in Jordan in July, while another died during the controlled detonation of an Iranian drone in Iraq.
The casualty update comes after nearly two weeks of military exchanges between US and Iranian forces. However, recent reports suggest attacks have paused in recent days as diplomatic efforts continue, although the overall situation remains uncertain.
