Source: Fortune
Summary
The Pentagon has removed four American troops killed in recent fighting between the US and Iran from its official casualty count and placed them in a new category called “Overseas Operations”. The move has raised questions about the accuracy of the death toll, which is now listed as 14 dead and 420 wounded. The Pentagon attributes the change to “temporary data disruptions”, but the actual number of wounded personnel is reportedly over 500. The US and Iran have exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz since July 7, with the US launching strikes in response to Iranian attacks on merchant vessels.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story.
The Pentagon’s casualty count has been inconsistent, with numbers changing and being reclassified. The new “Overseas Operations” category lists the four fallen soldiers and 207 wounded, but it’s unclear if all of the wounded were injured in the Iran conflict. The Pentagon attributes the changes to “temporary data disruptions”, but the lack of transparency raises questions about the accuracy of the death toll. The US and Iran continue to exchange fire in the Strait of Hormuz, with the US launching strikes in response to Iranian attacks.
The Pentagon’s reclassification of casualties is a familiar move in the playbook of wartime obfuscation.
Author: Evan Null
