Pentagon quietly raises US wounded toll in Iran conflict to 861

The Pentagon's official military casualty database has added 37 wounded service members to its tally for the Iran conflict, bringing the total to 861 without a public explanation for the increase.

The Defense Casualty Analysis System, the Pentagon's official record of military casualties, added 29 Navy sailors and eight Marines to the wounded total, says FirstPost.

A Navy official confirmed that all 29 sailors have since returned to duty but provided no details on when or where they were injured. No recent attacks or military incidents have been announced that would account for the increase.

Defense officials have previously said that additions to the casualty database can occur with a delay, particularly in cases involving concussions or brain injuries, whose symptoms may not appear immediately.

More than half of the 861 wounded service members are listed under "Overseas Operations", a designation covering casualties recorded after the collapse of the US-Iran ceasefire in July.

Casualties recorded before the ceasefire collapsed are listed under "Operation Epic Fury", the administration's designation for the conflict in West Asia.

The official military fatality count also rose to 19 from 18 after an Army officer suffered a medical emergency on 18 September while travelling to West Asia.

The Washington Post reported that as many as five military fatalities appeared to be missing from the Pentagon's database. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed the report, calling the claim "DISGUSTING and FAKE".

The administration has continued to resist defining the standoff with Iran as an active war.

President Trump referred to the conflict earlier this month as "small potatoes", while Vice President JD Vance said publicly that "there is no active shooting", despite the rising number of casualties recorded in official military logs.