WASHINGTON: The U.S. Department of Defense has released an updated report on American military casualties in the ongoing conflict with Iran, confirming that 18 U.S. service members have been killed and 624 wounded since the war began.
The figures follow a recent update to the Pentagon’s Defense Casualty Analysis System, which added more than 140 previously unreported wounded personnel and restored four troops who had been omitted from earlier public casualty counts.
According to the Pentagon, the updated data includes a newly created “Overseas Operations” category that records casualties from military operations conducted outside the United States beginning July 7. When combined with casualties recorded under Operation Epic Fury, the total since the conflict started on February 28 stands at 18 fatalities and 624 injuries.
The breakdown shows that 11 of those killed were members of the U.S. Army, six served in the U.S. Air Force, and one belonged to the U.S. Navy.
Among the wounded, 461 are Army personnel, 86 are from the Navy, 58 from the Air Force, and 19 from the Marine Corps.
The revised casualty figures come after criticism from U.S. lawmakers and media organizations, which accused the Pentagon of underreporting losses following recent Iranian attacks. The department’s decision to introduce a separate casualty category has also drawn scrutiny over transparency in reporting military losses.
According to the report, the fatalities include three U.S. soldiers killed during an Iranian attack in Jordan and another service member who died while attempting to neutralize an Iranian drone in northern Iraq.
Defense analysts say the updated casualty figures highlight the growing human cost of the conflict, as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
