The Pentagon updated its war casualty database on July 22, reporting an increase of over 140 wounded and restoring the four soldiers killed due to Iranian strikes the previous week. The Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) now includes a new tracking category titled 'Overseas Operations' for casualties beginning July 7. Since the U.S. launched its war against Iran on February 28, 18 troops have died and 624 have been wounded, marking a significant rise from the previous total of 482 wounded reported by CNN.
The Pentagon faced scrutiny from media and lawmakers after casualty numbers decreased in the DCAS system despite ongoing Iranian attacks. Twelve Democratic senators on the Armed Services Committee sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seeking clarification on these changes. Acting press secretary Joel Valdez stated that the decreases were due to 'temporary data disruptions' on the DCAS website. CNN noted data glitches that caused fluctuating casualty totals last week.
The new 'overseas operation' category provides a list of fallen troops but lacks specific details about the conflicts involved. The July 7 date aligns with President Donald Trump's assertion of a new conflict with Iran, which he communicated to Congress earlier this month. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed concerns regarding the administration's interpretation of the War Powers Act, with some arguing it undermines congressional authority. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has labeled the law as unconstitutional, while Senator Lisa Murkowski raised concerns about the administration circumventing Congress.