Scandal in the US – Pentagon Attempted to Downplay War Casualties

The Pentagon is at the center of a scandal over changes to the death toll in the conflict with Iran: the number of casualties was reduced from 18 to 14 by dividing the war into two phases. After criticism from politicians and the public, the department restored the original figure.

The Pentagon has found itself at the center of a major scandal over changes to the official statistics of military casualties in the conflict with Iran. On the department's website, the number of victims suddenly dropped from 18 to 14, sparking bewilderment and accusations of political manipulation. The Defense Department leadership, headed by Pete Hegseth, explained the change by dividing the conflict into two periods: the first — Operation Epic Fury (from February 28 to the end of April), and the second — with the resumption of hostilities on July 7. The transfer of four casualties to the 'new war' column led to a reduction in the overall figure. The methodology faced strong backlash: Republican Congressman Thomas Massie called the division an 'absurd trick,' and New York Governor Kathy Hochul condemned the rewriting of the human cost of war. Under pressure, the Pentagon restored the original figure of 18 casualties.