WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Twenty nine sailors and nine Marines were wounded in action during September military operations in the Middle East.
- The Pentagon now classifies casualties after May 5 under Overseas Operations rather than Operation Epic Fury.
- Since May 5, 443 service members have been wounded in action during continuing Middle East operations.
- All 29 sailors returned to active duty status, while eight Marines reportedly suffered minor injuries in an Iranian missile attack.
Twenty nine sailors and nine Marines were wounded in action during September military operations in the Middle East, according to the Pentagon’s casualty database.
The figures were recorded by the Defense Casualty Analysis System under its “Overseas Operations” category.
The system tracks deaths and injuries involving troops participating in Middle East operations.
Its latest figures reflect a revised accounting method for casualties connected to continuing missions in the region.
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Under that method, the Pentagon moved deaths previously listed under the “Operation Epic Fury” category into the broader “Overseas Operations” category. The reclassification reflects the Pentagon’s position that Operation Epic Fury ended on May 5.
“Since Operation Epic Fury concluded, the department classifies casualties as having occurred in Overseas Operations in the [U.S. Central Command] area of responsibility,” a defense official said.
Image Credit: DoW
The Trump administration has maintained that current U.S. military operations in the Middle East are not a continuation of Operation Epic Fury.
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The operation began on Feb. 28, when the United States launched coordinated military strikes with Israel against Iran.
Since the Iran war began, 19 U.S. service members have died and 418 have been injured. Five service members have died since Operation Epic Fury concluded, according to the casualty accounting.
Image Credit: DoW
The number of wounded troops has continued to grow while military operations have remained underway across the Middle East. Since May 5, 443 service members have been wounded in action during those operations.
The Defense Casualty Analysis System is operated by the Defense Manpower Data Center. The center relies on information provided by the military to report service members who have been injured or killed.
The Navy declined to provide additional details about the circumstances behind September’s increase in wounded sailors and Marines. A Navy official instead pointed to verification procedures and the validation of casualty reports.
Image Credit: DoW
“Due to standard verification protocols, updates to the Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) have registered a recent statistical increase in Navy casualties,” a Navy official said.
“The Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) and Navy Casualty officials have fully validated reports to ensure accurate service records.”
Image Credit: DoW
The Navy official also said all 29 sailors returned to active duty status. The source did not provide additional details about the injuries suffered by those sailors or the circumstances in which they were wounded.
NBC News separately reported on injuries involving eight of the nine Marines, citing three U.S. officials.
According to the outlet, the Marines were injured when an Iranian cruise missile attacked the ship on which they were operating in the Strait of Hormuz.
Image Credit: DoW
The Marines suffered minor injuries that ranged from smoke inhalation to possible concussions, NBC News reported. The source article did not provide further information about the ninth Marine or that Marine’s injury.
September’s figures place the 29 sailors and nine Marines within the Pentagon’s broader Overseas Operations accounting rather than the closed Operation Epic Fury category. That classification follows the department’s stated May 5 conclusion date for the operation.
The casualty database now presents continuing Middle East losses through the Overseas Operations category as missions in the region continue.
The Navy’s response confirmed the recent statistical increase and said officials had fully validated the reports for accurate service records.
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