Pentagon accused of hiding US losses as casualty count in war with Iran hits 13,000; US soldiers flee bases in the Gulf to hide in hotels and offices
US Central Command or CENTCOM, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, appears to be engaged in what a defence official called a “casualty cover-up,” offering The Intercept low-ball and outdated figures and failing to provide clarifications on military deaths and injuries.
World leaders express concerns over Middle East crisis, question Israel’s ‘pre-emptive strikes’ in Iran
Across the Middle East, governments voiced fears that the confrontation could spiral into a broader regional war. Oman, which has mediated recent US-Iran talks, expressed dismay that negotiations had been undermined and urged an immediate halt to military operations.