[News] Department of War omitting US casualties of war on Iran by hundreds

[Anti-Imperialist News]

english.almayadeen.net
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/department-of-war-omitting-us-casualties-of-war-on-iran-by-h>
Department of War omitting US casualties of war on Iran by hundreds
Al Mayadeen English
June 17, 2026
------------------------------

An investigation by Nick Turse finds that the Department of War's official
casualty count for the US-Israeli war on Iran may be missing hundreds of
wounded troops and some deaths, with military officials offering no clear
explanation for the discrepancies.

   - [image: President Donald Trump salutes as an Army carry team moves a
   flag-draped transfer case with the remains of an American soldier who was
   killed in a drone strike, during a casualty return, March 7, 2026, at Dover
   Air Force Base, Del. (AP)]
   <https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2026/6/17/32c3ae1f-4663-4548-8888-9396c616e4d3.jpg?width=1000>
   President Donald Trump salutes as an Army carry team moves a flag-draped
   transfer case with the remains of an American soldier who was killed in a
   drone strike, during a casualty return, March 7, 2026, at Dover Air Force
   Base, Del. (AP)

As Washington prepares to sign a ceasefire agreement with Tehran, a new
investigation by journalist Nick Turse reveals that the Department of War's
official casualty figures from the US-Israeli war on Iran
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/pentagon-s-little-secret--us-troop-casualties-in-west-asia>
may be missing hundreds of wounded American troops and even some deaths,
raising serious concerns about government transparency.

The Department of War's Defense Casualty Analysis System currently reports
426 American personnel killed or injured since the war began. However,
Turse's reporting indicates the real number likely exceeds 625, with
numerous injuries and fatalities omitted from the official count. The gaps
in the data have persisted despite repeated requests from journalists for
clarification.

Earlier this year, fifteen wounded soldiers mysteriously disappeared
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/us-death-toll-in-iran-rises-to-14--pentagon>
from the casualty statistics with no public explanation. When reporters
pressed military officials for answers, they received no coherent response.
One defense official speaking to *The Intercept* suggested the situation
points to either gross incompetence or deliberate manipulation of the
numbers by someone in the chain of command.
Wounded Apache crew, USS Ford sailors missing from official tally

Two soldiers injured when a US Army Apache helicopter was struck earlier
this month are among those missing from the official database
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/department-of-war-accused-of-cover-up-of-us-troop-war-casual>.
Central Command had publicly confirmed the crew members were receiving
medical treatment, yet their names do not appear in the casualty records.

The omissions extend beyond combat injuries. Major Sorffly Davius of the
New York Army National Guard, who died while deployed in Kuwait, was
publicly honored by military leaders and elected officials.

Nevertheless, his death has not been recorded in the official casualty
system.

Additionally, more than 200 sailors who received treatment after a fire
aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford have been excluded from the count because
their injuries were classified as non-combat, even though the incident
occurred during active wartime operations.
Pattern of undercounting has historical precedent

The investigation reveals a recurring pattern in American wars: casualty
statistics become tools of political messaging rather than accurate records.

The US-Israeli war on Iran has already caused devastating destruction
across West Asia, including thousands of civilian deaths in Iran. Now it
appears the American public may also have been misled about the price paid
by US troops.

As the administration prepares to declare victory and move on, the
unanswered questions about casualty reporting demand attention.

*Read More: Pentagon's little secret: US troop casualties in West Asia
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/pentagon-s-little-secret--us-troop-casualties-in-west-asia>*
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