The Pentagon updated its official casualty database over the weekend, adding more than 140 wounded service members and introducing a new casualty category labeled “Overseas Operations” for personnel killed and wounded beginning July 7. This revision adjusts the toll from the earlier phase of the conflict between the United States and Iran, known by the US military as Operation Epic Fury.

According to the revised Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS), the official count for Operation Epic Fury now stands at 14 service members killed and over 400 wounded in action. These numbers represent a decrease from the previous totals of 18 deaths and 482 wounded, which had been reported just days earlier. The Pentagon’s adjustment has drawn attention amid the collapse of a ceasefire with Iran and the resumption of near-daily airstrikes starting July 6.

The Pentagon and analysts have debated whether casualties incurred during the renewed hostilities should be recorded under the existing Operation Epic Fury category or separately under the newly created “Overseas Operations” heading. Such a distinction would be unprecedented. The Trump administration has sought to treat the renewed military campaign as separate from the initial phase of the operation, in line with their interpretation of the War Powers Act of 1973. This law requires the president to end military engagements within 60 days unless Congress authorizes an extension.

The administration’s position hinges on the belief that the April ceasefire with Iran effectively paused the 60-day timeline as of May 1, restarting only with the resurgence of combat operations in early July. The introduction of a separate casualty count from July 7 reflects this view. Notably, the Pentagon’s official online casualty list did not include four soldiers killed during renewed fighting over the weekend, although their deaths were acknowledged in a Pentagon press release announcing the return of their remains to the United States on Wednesday.

Combining the revised totals for Operation Epic Fury with the newly categorized casualties, the Pentagon’s updated figures indicate that since the US launched its war against Iran on February 28, a total of 18 American service members have died and 624 have been wounded.

The administration’s interpretation of the War Powers Act timeline and its categorization of casualties has been met with skepticism from lawmakers across both parties, who have questioned the legality and accuracy of separating the casualty figures in this manner. The dispute underscores ongoing concerns about transparency in reporting and congressional oversight of US military operations abroad.