DID Press: The number of U.S. service members killed during “Operation Epic Fury” and missions recorded under the category of “Overseas Operations” has risen to 19 following the death of a U.S. Army officer, according to casualty data from the Pentagon.
The Pentagon records casualties from “Operation Epic Fury” and “Overseas Operations” as two separate categories. The latest update follows the death of Bianca C. Wilkerson, a 37-year-old U.S. Army officer from Norfolk, Virginia.
The U.S. Army said Wilkerson died on September 18 following a non-combat-related incident while traveling to Saudi Arabia. She had been supporting overseas operations from Doha, Qatar, and was assigned to U.S. Army Central Command and the Third Army, based at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina.
Following the announcement of a temporary ceasefire in July, Pentagon began recording additional military fatalities linked to missions outside that framework under the separate “Overseas Operations” category.
Pentagon’s reported death toll of 19 comes amid allegations from some media outlets and informed sources that the U.S. military has underreported or concealed the actual number of American casualties in the war with Iran.