The Pentagon updated its official casualty count for the U.S. military’s conflict with Iran this week, adding two nonhostile deaths to the tally. The additions bring the total number of U.S. service member fatalities to 23, according to the Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS), the Pentagon’s official record of war casualties.
The Air Force confirmed the deaths were classified as nonhostile. One airman died from an illness, while the cause of the second death remains under investigation, an Air Force spokesperson told reporters. The deaths were recorded in the DCAS database on Wednesday and Thursday, with both cases logged under the “Overseas Operations” category, which covers casualties since July 7.
Of the 23 total deaths, 11 were killed by enemy fire, while 12 were classified as nonhostile. The Pentagon’s records also indicate that 865 U.S. service members have been wounded by enemy fire since the conflict began in late February.
Breakdown of Casualties by Operation
The Pentagon separates casualties into two operational categories:
- Operation Epic Fury: The initial campaign, which began with U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28, accounts for 15 deaths and 417 wounded service members.
- Overseas Operations: Casualties recorded since July 7 total 8 deaths and 448 wounded.
The two newly added Air Force deaths fall under the Overseas Operations category. Among the 12 nonhostile fatalities, six resulted from the March crash of a U.S. military refueling tanker in Iraq, which killed all airmen aboard. The remaining nonhostile deaths include cases classified as accidents, illnesses, or incidents still under review.
The Pentagon has not disclosed additional details about the circumstances surrounding the two latest deaths, including locations or specific units involved. The DCAS database serves as the authoritative source for U.S. military casualties in active conflicts and contingency operations.