The Pentagon’s public account of US service member casualties in the Iran war excludes at least four service members killed in the Middle East since the war began on February 28, The Washington Post reported on Friday, citing six US officials familiar with the Defense Department’s internal casualty accounting data.
While the Pentagon‘s public database, the Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS), lists 18 US military fatalities, five of the officials told WaPo that there had been at least 22 fatalities, with an additional official saying there had been 23.
The official said that while not all of the undisclosed deaths were directly tied to the conflict, all involved US personnel in the region during the war.
Three US contractors based in the region have also died since the start of the conflict, the official added.
Officials expressed their frustration with the excluded deaths to the Washington Post.
In addition to public transparency, the proper accounting of military fatalities is essential for service members’ families who receive survivor benefits based on whether the death occurred while performing official duties.
As of Friday, 14 fatalities are listed in the system as occurring during Operation Epic Fury, with an additional four categorized under Overseas Operations, referring to the July ceasefire between the US and Iran, which later collapsed, the Washington Post wrote.
The Pentagon also released the names of two service members who died in the Middle East since February while assigned to missions unrelated to the Iran war, although both deaths occurred at bases attacked by Iranian forces.
Sgt. Devin Seibel died in Irbil, Iraq, during a training accident on May 31 while assigned to the ongoing campaign against Islamic State terrorists, Operation Inherent Resolve, according to a Pentagon press release.
In addition, Maj. Sorffly Davius died on March 6 after suffering an unspecified medical emergency, having been deployed under Operation Spartan Shield, which involved partnerships with regional militaries, according to the Washington Post.