Reported U.S. Iran War Deaths Exceed Pentagon Tally

Five U.S. officials say at least 22 service members have died since the Iran war began February 28, versus 18 listed in the Pentagon's public DCAS database as of September 18. A sixth official put the toll at 23, with some unreported deaths not directly tied to combat. Three U.S. contractors also reportedly died. Fourteen of 18 listed deaths are under Operation Epic Fury; four under Overseas Operations begun around July 7-8 after a ceasefire collapsed. More than 820 troops have been wounded. CENTCOM estimated $45.1 billion through September 3 plus $28 billion more for munitions. Contested: Officials cite 22-23 against the public 18. The Washington Post could not establish identities, dates, locations, or circumstances of unlisted deaths. The Pentagon declined to explain the discrepancy. In July Trump saluted at Dover as four transfer cases were carried off a plane for Feehan, Gonzales, Rampersad, and Swinton, killed in a July 17 Jordan attack and July 19 Erbil drone detonation. He called it one of the hardest things to do as a president and said, There's no games, there's no nothing — that's their child. And all you can do is throw out your heart. Additional death identities remain undisclosed.