Washington DC [US], August 22 (ANI): The number of US service members killed or wounded in the Iran war has risen to more than 770, according to casualty figures provided by the Pentagon, reported by The Washington Post on Friday, as the conflict enters its sixth month.
The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon's casualty reporting system showed 774 US service members killed or wounded, including 18 killed and 756 wounded in the conflict.
According to the Post, the Pentagon added scores of new troops to the wounded list in recent days, even as the United States and Iran have largely remained under a ceasefire in recent weeks.
It noted that some of the newly added figures could reflect a delay between an injury being recorded in the military's medical system and its appearance in the Pentagon's casualty database.
US President Donald Trump also did not extend the ceasefire with Iran, as per the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding that was signed in June, after it expired on Monday.
However, there has been no large-scale resumption of combat operations by either side since then.
CNN, meanwhile, reported that the number of wounded US service members has crossed 750 on Wednesday.
When figures under the Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) for "Overseas Operations" are combined with those for Operation Epic Fury, CNN reported that 18 service members have died since the US launched the war against Iran on February 28.
CNN reported that the Pentagon created the "Overseas Operations" category last month in DCAS for service members killed and wounded "starting July 7."
The Pentagon has not provided additional details or specified the conflict associated with the category.
The July 7 date also corresponds with the day the Trump administration informed the US Congress that a new conflict with Iran had begun in a War Powers Act notification.
The latest figures come weeks after the Pentagon faced scrutiny over changes to its casualty data.
The number of killed and wounded service members had decreased in the database even as Iranian attacks continued, with four deaths and dozens of injuries disappearing from the totals before being restored.
The War Department had attributed those changes to "temporary data disruptions", according to CNN.
CNN also reported that the Pentagon has been slow to disclose wounded troops during the conflict, with officials citing security concerns.
Trump, meanwhile, said on Wednesday that the situation with Iran is "so good" right now, as negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain paused and the Strait of Hormuz continues to be a key point of tension in the conflict. (ANI)
US military casualties rise to over 770 as Iran conflict enters sixth month
