US Iran Casualties Hit 774; Wounded Jump 59

The Pentagon's official count of U.S. service members killed or wounded in the war with Iran has risen to 774, after dozens of injured troops were added to the tally.

The number of wounded went from 697 on Wednesday to 756 on Thursday — a jump of 59 in a single day, according to RSBNetwork's reading of the Pentagon count.

The death toll held at 18.

KXAN reported the same day that the Pentagon says more than 750 U.S. service members have been wounded since the war against Iran began in late February.

The Numbers

The casualties are logged in two buckets.

Operation Epic Fury, which began Feb. 28, accounts for 417 wounded and 14 deaths.

A separate "overseas operations" category, starting July 7, accounts for 339 wounded and 4 deaths.

The Pentagon gave no immediate explanation for the 59-injury single-day increase — when those troops were hurt, or why the count moved all at once, was not stated.

Of the service members killed since July 7 who have been identified, three were lost in an attack on a base in Jordan.

Why It Matters

The numbers carry legal weight on top of the human cost.

The War Powers Resolution generally requires a president to end hostilities within 60 days absent an authorization from Congress.

The administration's position is that the July 7 notification restarted that 60-day clock. Some lawmakers dispute that reading and argue the original authorization has already lapsed — which leaves the legal basis for continued U.S. military action contested while the casualty list grows.