The U.S. Department of Defense on Thursday revised the official number of U.S. military deaths in the war on Iran from 18 down to 14, sparking questions as internal explanations conflict with public statements.
According to reports, a Pentagon acting spokesperson told The New York Times the change was due to a "temporary data glitch" on the department's website. However, The New York Times also cited three anonymous U.S. military officials saying the adjustment resulted from excluding four service members who died after President Donald Trump announced a temporary ceasefire with Iran in April.
As a result, those casualties are no longer counted as killed in action during combat operations against Iran.
Pentagon lowers U.S. death toll in war on Iran to 14
China is willing to expand exchanges and cooperation with Slovakia in various fields, said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Friday.
At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, President of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini will pay a state visit to China from July 27 to 29.
"Slovakia was one of the first countries to recognize and establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, and is an important partner of China in Europe. During the visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold talks with President Pellegrini to jointly chart a blueprint for the future development of China-Slovakia relations and exchange in-depth views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern. China is willing to work with Slovakia to take this visit as an opportunity to continuously deepen traditional friendship and political mutual trust, strengthen the alignment of development strategies, and expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields. It will promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and cooperation with Central and Eastern European countries, to continuously enrich the connotation of the strategic partnership between China and Slovakia," said spokesman Lin Jian.
China willing to expand exchanges, cooperation with Slovakia in various fields: spokesman
