Pentagon Civilian-Casualty Report Draws Fire as Critics Call It a Whitewash

Two officials told The Intercept that the Pentagon’s 2025 Annual Report on Civilian Casualties, covering Yemen, Iran, Somalia and boat strikes, reads as a “joke” and “whitewash” despite acknowledging hundreds of civilian deaths. Yemen’s Rough Rider campaign is cited as 153 civilians killed and about 250 wounded by the Pentagon, though Yemen Data Project tallies reach 238 dead and 467 injured, with three incidents likely harmed civilians and 15 more under review. CENTCOM’s civilian-harm team has been cut from 40 to 9, fueling concerns about tracking and mitigation. The report excludes Iran’s current war data, and critics argue the CHMR program has been gutted, undermining civilian protection responsibilities.