The Pentagon has come under scrutiny after reducing the official death toll of US service members killed in the Iran war from 18 to 14 on its website, triggering criticism from military families, veterans and lawmakers over the transparency of its casualty reporting.

The number of U.S. troops killed in the war was 18, accounting for four deaths over the weekend, but now only 14 are counted on the site.

Eighteen U.S. soldiers have been killed in strikes so far.

The Pentagon has said ‘data disruptions’ explain the discrepancy