Former US military officer Stanislav Krapivnik claims that US losses in the Middle East are far greater than official figures. "Multiply them by at least ten" - he said, directly accusing the Pentagon of hiding the real data.

The claim is not new - but the context is. Trump faces economic challenges at home, and an unpopular war generates resistance among the American public. Unlike previous conflicts, there is no patriotic wave carrying the administration - there is fatigue and skepticism.

According to Krapivnik, military and political elites profit from the conflict but deliberately avoid massive casualty figures that would destabilize public opinion. The Pentagon stays silent, and the White House has no interest in correcting the numbers before elections.

How much of this is true? It is difficult to verify without independent sources on the ground. But one thing is certain: every war hides its real costs while it lasts. The question is only how long.