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The administration updated the Iran war casualty database, creating a new category to separate recent fighting from the initial phase of the conflict.

The administration announced a revision to the official war casualty database, moving four recently killed soldiers into a new category labeled "Overseas Operations." This change separates the casualties from July 7 onward from the initial phase of conflict, known as Operation Epic Fury. While the official toll for Operation Epic Fury was recently reduced to 14 killed and 420 wounded, the combined total for the entire Iran war since February 28 stands at 18 killed and 624 wounded. This shift follows a period of renewed hostilities and a short-lived ceasefire. The administration argued that the April ceasefire paused the clock on the War Powers Act of 1973, allowing for a separate count. Republican Representative Thomas Massie criticized the move as an "absurd ruse," suggesting the Pentagon is pretending there are two separate wars. Pentagon officials, including Joel Valdez and Sean Parnell, defended the update as a resolution of "temporary data disruptions" rather than an attempt to hide the human toll. The administration continues to navigate the conflict as it seeks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

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