The Pentagon has raised its official count of US troops who died in operations related to the Iran war to 21, with 865 service members wounded. Military Times, via Yahoo reports that the department acknowledged late Friday, October 9, that the number is higher than previously reported. The update adds two noncombat deaths to the Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS).

What Changed

  • Two deaths added: according to the Washington Post, citing a US official, they were Maj. Sorffly Davius, 46, an Army National Guard member who died in Kuwait on March 6, and an unidentified Navy member who died in September. Davius's death had been reported earlier but was not in the official total.
  • Earlier count: DCAS had listed 18 deaths, and the Washington Post reported last month, citing six US officials, that the database understated the total.
  • Wounded: 865, according to the updated data. Shafaq News notes that is four more than the previous update.

How the Tally Is Split

Since a pause and resumption of large-scale hostilities, the Pentagon has tracked casualties in two categories. According to Stripes, the first covers Operation Epic Fury, which counts 15 deaths and 417 wounded. The second, created for the renewed fighting, lists 6 deaths and 448 wounded. A Pentagon official told the AP in July that Epic Fury had concluded and later casualties would be recorded under the new designation. The Intercept has reported that this separate accounting makes the overall toll harder to follow.

A Separate Death

The military also confirmed another soldier's death in a training accident that it says is not tied to the Iran operations. It is recorded under Operation Inherent Resolve, the long-running campaign against ISIS. Counting that death, 22 US troops have died in the Middle East since operations against Iran began on February 28.

Reactions

  • House Democrats: two senior Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee welcomed what they called the Pentagon's "public correction."
  • Pentagon: in a statement to the Post, it described the change as a revision to how it reports casualties rather than a correction of its figures. It did not directly address the revised toll.
  • Hegseth: the New Arab reports he earlier called reports of a higher death toll "a complete lie." The New Arab is a Qatar-based outlet, so read that framing with its viewpoint in mind.

The War So Far

US and Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28. Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks on US bases and partner states in the region. In March, the Pentagon said about 140 service members had been wounded in the first 10 days. The wounded total has since grown to 865, and the Pentagon says its figures include both combat and noncombat casualties.

What We Don't Know

  • The identity of the Navy member and details of the September death.
  • Whether further deaths or injuries remain uncounted. The data are current through October 9.
  • How the Pentagon will treat casualties from future operations in its two-category system.

Key Takeaways

  • The official US death toll is now 21, with 865 wounded.
  • Two noncombat deaths were added after reports that the tally was incomplete.
  • The Pentagon calls it a reporting revision, while Democrats call it a correction.