Order Code RS21578
Updated August 24, 2006
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Iraq: Summary of U.S. Casualties
JoAnne O’Bryant
Information Research Specialist
Knowledge Services Group
Summary
The following casualty data was compiled by the Department of Defense (DOD),
as tallied from the agency’s press releases. Table 1 provides statistics on fatalities
during Operation Iraqi Freedom, which began on March 19, 2003, and is ongoing, as
well as on the number of fatalities since May 1, 2003, plus statistics on those wounded,
but not killed, since March 19, 2003. Statistics may be revised as circumstances are
investigated and as all records are processed through the U.S. military’s casualty system.
More frequent updates are available at DOD’s website at [http://www.defenselink.mil/
news/] under “OIF/OEF Casualty Update.”
A detailed casualty summary that includes data on deaths by cause, as well as
statistics on soldiers wounded in action, is available at the following DOD website:
[http://siadapp.dior.whs.mil/personnel/CASUALTY/castop.htm].
Table 1. Operation Iraqi Freedom, U.S. Fatalities and Wounded
as of August 23, 2006, 10 a.m. EST
March 19, 2003,
May 1, 2003,
March 19, 2003,
Fatalities
Wounded
to the Present
to the Present
to the Present
Hostile
2,076
1,961
In actiona
19,609
Non-hostile
539
508
Not Returned
8,922
to Duty
Total
2,615
2,469


Source: DOD press releases.
Note: The President’s statement about combat operations in Iraq having ended can be found in the Weekly
Compilation of Presidential Documents, May 1, 2003, p. 516.
a. Includes the “Not Returned to Duty” figure.
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