Approximately 7,000 people were killed during the US-led Operation Epic Fury.

Omissions

• The figure of approximately 7,000 deaths matches only the earliest preliminary reports from March 1, 2026 — the first day of the operation — and does not reflect the full death toll accumulated over the subsequent two months of conflict through early May 2026.
• Independent tracker militaryspend.org estimates the total death toll at 8,944–18,278, suggesting the MEP's figure understates the full human cost by at least 28%.
• The MEP did not cite any source for the 7,000 figure, making it unclear whether the number was drawn from the early Al Jazeera preliminary report or from another origin.
• Only US military casualties (13 killed) have been officially confirmed by the Pentagon; total civilian and Iranian military casualties lack a single authoritative primary source as of the session date.

Sources

• PrimaryU.S. Department of WarOn Feb. 28, 2026, the U.S. military commenced Operation Epic Fury under the direction and direct orders of the president of the United States.
• SecondaryAl JazeeraPreliminary figures are 3468 people dead in Iran, 3696 dead in Lebanon, and 28 killed in Gulf states (total: approximately 7,192 deaths).
• SecondaryMilitary Spending Organization (militaryspend.org)2026 Iran war casualties tracker: 8944–18278 total killed across all sides. Iran's forensics body identified 3,375 total war dead (military + civilian combined).