The Pentagon updated its casualty accounting in September, listing 29 sailors and nine Marines wounded in Middle East operations. DCAS reclassified deaths previously under "Operation Epic Fury" into the broader "Overseas Operations" category after the Pentagon concluded Epic Fury on May 5. Since the Iran conflict began, officials report 19 U.S. service members killed and 418 injured; five deaths occurred after Epic Fury ended, and 443 personnel have been wounded since May 5. NBC reported eight Marines suffered minor injuries after a missile struck their vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
38 Sailors and Marines Wounded in September as Pentagon Reclassifies 'Operation Epic Fury' Casualties
Aerial view of the Pentagon. (REUTERS/Jason Reed)
The Pentagon's casualty database shows that 29 sailors and nine Marines were wounded in action in September during U.S. military operations in the Middle East, according to an updated accounting by the Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS).
Reclassification Of Casualty Records
DCAS — operated by the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) and reliant on military-provided data — revised its "Overseas Operations" category and moved deaths previously listed under "Operation Epic Fury" into the broader Overseas Operations classification. The department says the change reflects its position that Operation Epic Fury ended on May 5; casualties occurring after that date are now recorded under Overseas Operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
Casualty Totals And Context
Officials' records show that, since the start of the conflict with Iran, 19 U.S. service members have been killed and 418 have been injured. Five service members have died since Operation Epic Fury concluded on May 5. Separately, the Pentagon's updated accounting lists 443 service members wounded in action since May 5 — a figure that reflects the reclassification and recent DCAS updates.
Recent Incident Reports
The Navy declined to provide additional details about the recent increase in wounded sailors and Marines, noting that "due to standard verification protocols, updates to the Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) have registered a recent statistical increase in Navy casualties." A Navy official told Military Times that DMDC and Navy casualty officials have validated reports to ensure accurate service records.
According to reporting by NBC News, which cited three U.S. officials, eight of the nine Marines were injured after an Iranian cruise missile struck the vessel they were operating in the Strait of Hormuz. Those injuries were described as minor and included smoke inhalation and possible concussions. The Navy also said all 29 sailors have returned to active-duty status.
Note: Figures reflect the Pentagon's updated classification and may change further as additional verification and reporting occur.
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