The Pentagon recently updated its official war casualty database, the Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS), adding more than 140 wounded service members. As part of this update, the department introduced a new casualty category labeled Overseas Operations for personnel killed and wounded starting July 7.
The change has sparked a dispute over figures after four American troops killed during renewed fighting between the U.S. and Iran in recent weeks were removed from the Iran war death toll. These four service members, previously listed as Iran war fatalities, are now categorized as Overseas Operations Casualties, a move that restores them to the system.
According to the updated database, the official toll for Operation Epic Fury, the earlier phase of the US-Iran war, now stands at 14 service members killed and more than 400 wounded in action. Pentagon press secretary Joel Valdez argued that the drop in casualty figures in the online system was not an effort to hide the growing human toll of the war.