Pentagon database lists 18 US troops killed and 624 wounded in Iran war
An updated Pentagon casualty database indicates 18 US service members have been killed and 624 wounded since the conflict with Iran began on February 28, amid a dispute over how renewed fighting is classified.
An updated Pentagon casualty database indicates that 18 US service members have been killed and 624 wounded since the United States began military operations against Iran on February 28, according to figures reviewed by The Guardian.
The Defense Casualty Analysis System now lists 14 deaths and more than 400 wounded under Operation Epic Fury, the name used for the first phase of the campaign. A separate category, “Overseas Operations,” covers casualties from renewed fighting beginning on July 7. Combined, the two categories produce the total of 18 killed and 624 wounded.
The update added more than 140 wounded personnel. It follows earlier changes in which the Pentagon reduced previously displayed totals for Operation Epic Fury from 18 deaths and 482 wounded, creating questions about whether casualties from the renewed campaign were being recorded separately.
The classification has political and legal implications. The administration argues that an April ceasefire paused the timeline established by the 1973 War Powers Act, while lawmakers from both parties have challenged that interpretation. The law generally requires a president to end unauthorized military action within 60 days, with a further 30-day withdrawal period, unless Congress grants authorization.
Four service members killed after fighting resumed were named in a Pentagon statement concerning the return of their remains but were not included in the online list for Operation Epic Fury. The new category appears to account for casualties from that later phase.
The figures remain subject to revision as the Pentagon updates its records. They describe US military casualties and do not include Iranian or civilian losses.
