The Pentagon's public database tracking dead and wounded military personnel has categorized four service members killed in Jordan and Iraq in July under "Overseas Operations Casualties," separating them from 14 other service members killed during the conflict with Iran.
The other 14 service members are listed in the database under Operation Epic Fury, the official name designated by the Department of Defense for the conflict. Briefly last week, the names of the four most recently deceased service members were also included on that list, bringing the total to 18. However, by last Thursday, their names were removed, and the database reverted to showing 14 deaths associated with the war with Iran.
Media reports initially attributed the missing numbers to the fact that the four service members died after the Trump administration had declared a ceasefire in April. However, the service members were killed approximately one week after President Donald Trump sent a letter notifying Congress that the ceasefire had ended and military operations had resumed on July 7. The four deceased personnel have been identified as 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, and Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton.
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell addressed the discrepancy in a statement shared on X, blaming "site errors on the Defense Casualty Analysis System" caused by "a temporary data disruption." Parnell stated that the "site anomalies are currently being resolved in coordination with the Military Services." He also criticized media reporting on the database, accusing outlets of using anonymous sources to promote a false narrative.
This is not the first time the Pentagon has shifted the classification of casualties during this conflict. When the Defense Department initially announced the names of two of the three service members killed in an Iranian attack in Jordan earlier this month, they were first classified under Operation Inherent Resolve, the long-standing mission targeting ISIS. The Pentagon later amended those releases, changing the classification to "overseas operations."
The Pentagon has also faced scrutiny for slow disclosure regarding injuries. Following reports that dozens of troops had been wounded in Middle East attacks, officials initially directed reporters to the database website, despite the fact that it had not been updated for several days and did not account for the recent deaths. Furthermore, defense officials have not held a press briefing on the Iran war since May and have declined to comment directly on the categorization of the four service members' deaths.
It has been confirmed that nearly 100 U.S. service members have sustained injuries since July 7. In a post on X, Parnell stated that 96 percent of those injured have returned to duty, explaining that the vast majority of the injuries were minor concussions. Medical experts note that minor concussions can represent traumatic brain injuries, which vary in severity and can present symptoms long after the initial event. Parnell noted that future updates would be posted to the Defense Casualty Analysis System.
As of Sunday, the tracking website listed 417 service members as wounded in the war with Iran, a decrease from the 482 listed early last week. Meanwhile, the database now lists 207 service members as having been wounded in Overseas Operations.
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