Shaheen Says 23 U.S. Service Members Have Died in Iran War

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen said on November 13 that 23 American service members had died in the war in Iran, including several during the preceding five months. The New Hampshire Democrat challenged President Donald Trump’s account of American losses and accused him of insulting the service and sacrifice of those killed. Shaheen, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, wrote: “The American people deserve better from their Commander in Chief.” Her statement renewed criticism she had previously directed at the administration over its casualty reporting. On August 7, Shaheen’s office announced that she and 17 Senate Democratic colleagues had introduced the Honoring the Sacrifices of Our Troops in War Act. The proposal would bar unjustified redesignation of continuing operations against the same enemy and manipulation of casualty records through such changes. It would also restore records for Iran-related operations since February 28, notify next of kin of corrections, and protect or restore deployment-related benefits for military and civilian personnel. On July 28, her office said she and other senators had written to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seeking a full and accurate accounting of casualties. Their letter challenged inconsistencies between public casualty figures and official statements.