Kathmandu— The Pentagon released its annual estimate of civilian casualties resulting from U.S. military operations in 2025, reporting 153 deaths and 243 injuries; however, the report has faced immediate criticism for significantly undercounting the number of civilians killed or injured compared to estimates from independent monitoring groups and assessments from within the U.S. government itself. The findings, submitted to Congress on Monday, detail casualties primarily stemming from bombing campaigns in Yemen, with a notable absence of reported civilian deaths from operations in the Western Hemisphere despite numerous strikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels. Concerns over transparency and accuracy have been raised by observers questioning the methodology used to determine civilian harm.

Discrepancies in Casualty Counts

The Pentagon’s report concludes that all documented civilian casualties in 2025 occurred as a result of operations against Houthi forces in Yemen, with an additional 15 incidents remaining under investigation. This contrasts sharply with figures compiled by independent organizations like Airwars, which estimates at least 258 civilian deaths during the same period, and the Yemen Data Project, reporting 238 deaths and 467 injuries. The significant divergence raises questions about how the Pentagon defines and verifies civilian casualties.

Concerns Over Western Hemisphere Operations

A particularly contentious point of criticism centers on the lack of reported civilian casualties from U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, initiated in September 2025 against vessels suspected of drug trafficking. Despite over 200 deaths resulting from these operations – approximately 120 in 2025 alone – the Pentagon report recorded no civilians among those killed. The Trump administration has characterized those targeted as “narco-terrorists,” but critics argue that insufficient public evidence supports claims linking them to terrorist organizations or proving they were carrying narcotics.

Allegations of a ‘Whitewash’

Two anonymous U.S. government officials, speaking with The Intercept, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Pentagon's assessment. One described the report as “a total whitewash,” while another bluntly called it “a f***ing joke.” These internal criticisms highlight concerns that the reported figures do not accurately reflect the true extent of civilian harm caused by U.S. military actions. UN experts, legal specialists, and several Latin American governments have also questioned the legality of the strikes against drug-trafficking boats, labeling them as potentially extrajudicial killings.

Projected Increase in Future Casualties

The Pentagon’s latest estimates represent a substantial increase from the two civilian deaths acknowledged in 2024. However, officials anticipate even higher numbers for 2026 due to the ongoing conflict involving the U.S. and Israel against Iran. Iranian authorities have already reported over 3,300 deaths since February, with nearly half being civilians – including at least 200 children, among them more than 120 schoolgirls killed in a U.S. strike on an elementary school in Minab.

The discrepancies between the Pentagon’s report and independent assessments are likely to fuel further debate over transparency and accountability regarding civilian casualties resulting from U.S. military operations.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.