Pentagon Raises U.S. Military Death Toll in Iran War
Reference News Network, October 13 According to a report on the website of the American Washington Post on October 10, the Pentagon admitted on the evening of the 9th that the number of U.S. military personnel killed in military operations against Iran is higher than previously reported, and updated the official statistics, which included two new non-combat death cases.
Last month, the Washington Post exclusively reported based on information from six U.S. officials that the number of U.S. military deaths is greater than the figures published by the Pentagon in its official public database, the Defense Casualty Analysis System.
At that time, Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth called the report "a complete lie" on social media. However, later on the evening of the 9th, the Pentagon revised the numbers in the Defense Casualty Analysis System, adding two deaths.
As of the 9th, the Defense Casualty Analysis System recorded 21 U.S. military deaths officially recognized by the U.S. government as related to the conflict with Iran.
An anonymous U.S. official stated that this number includes the two new non-combat death cases: 46-year-old Army National Guard Major Sulfli Davies, who died in Kuwait on March 6; and another case from September, involving a Navy personnel suicide incident whose identity has not been disclosed.
According to the latest data from the Defense Casualty Analysis System, an additional 865 military personnel were injured.
The U.S. military also acknowledged that another soldier died in a training accident unrelated to the conflict with Iran.
The public and regulators find it difficult to ascertain the exact number of U.S. military casualties during the conflict, partly because the Trump administration changed the method of counting U.S. military deaths midway, with critics accusing this move of aiming to conceal the actual casualty figures of the U.S. military. (Translated by Hu Guanghe)
The Pentagon acknowledged that the U.S. military death toll in operations related to Iran is now 21, including two non-combat deaths. This update was made on October 9, following earlier reports that indicated a higher number than previously disclosed. Additionally, 865 military personnel have been reported injured during these operations.
- Pentagon updated U.S. military death toll in Iran operations to 21.
- Two non-combat deaths included: a National Guard member and a Navy personnel suicide.
- 865 additional military personnel reported injured.
- The previous death toll was disputed by U.S. officials.
- Changes in reporting methods have led to public confusion about casualty numbers.