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The U.S. Department of Defense has created a new casualty-reporting category that separates American losses from the Iran war into different periods, as the total toll reached 18 dead and 624 wounded since the conflict began Feb. 28.
The new category, listed in the Defense Casualty Analysis System as “Overseas Operations,” tracks casualties beginning July 7, one day before U.S. President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran “over.”
It records four deaths and 207 injuries. Three of the service members were killed in Jordan, while the fourth was killed in northern Iraq.
A separate page for “Operation Epic Fury” lists 14 deaths and 417 wounded.
Together, the two categories bring the total reported U.S. losses to 18 fatalities and 624 injuries.
The new reporting structure follows a New York Times report alleging that the Pentagon failed to disclose dozens of military injuries and damage to aircraft caused by Iranian strikes earlier this month.
The newspaper reported Thursday that the Pentagon had reduced the number of U.S. troops listed on its website as killed during the Iran war from 18 to 14.
CNN also reported that casualty figures in the Defense Department database had been “fluctuating,” raising further questions about the transparency of the military’s reporting.
Twelve Democratic members of the Senate Armed Services Committee sent a formal letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday seeking clarification.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell previously said the department was working to resolve systematic errors in the Defense Casualty Analysis System following the New York Times report.
Officials have not provided a clear explanation for why more recent casualties are being recorded under a separate category.
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