Shafaq News- Washington

The Pentagon has raised the official number of US service members who died in connection with operations against Iran to 21, while 865 personnel have been wounded, according to updated Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) data.

The figures, current through October 9, mark an increase of two deaths and four wounded personnel from the previous official count. The death toll includes both combat and noncombat fatalities linked by the Pentagon to operations against Iran.

The Pentagon’s casualty accounting has faced scrutiny over discrepancies in its public figures. The Intercept has reported that casualties occurring after July 7 were recorded separately from those under Operation Epic Fury, complicating efforts to determine the overall toll from the conflict.

In early September, Pentagon data put the total number of US military casualties linked to the Iran conflict at 838, including 18 deaths and 820 wounded personnel.