At least 81 US aircraft worth up to $3.3bn lost or damaged in Iran war

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that at least 81 US military aircraft have been lost or damaged during Operation Epic Fury, Washington’s campaign against Iran. The figure comes from a Congressional Budget Office report released on Monday and includes fighter jets, refuelling planes and drones. The CBO estimated that, as of August 1, the aircraft losses alone were worth between $1.9 billion and $3.3 billion.

The article says the damaged aircraft included 12 F-15E Strike Eagle jets, one F-35A Lightning II, seven KC-135 Stratotankers and 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones. The losses are part of a broader war bill that the CBO previously put at about $38 billion, reflecting replacement costs, fuel and other operations. The war, launched on February 28, has continued for months without a lasting ceasefire.

The report has increased political pressure on President Donald Trump’s administration, which has sought major defence funding and faced questions in Congress about the price of the conflict. A group of Senate Democrats and one independent have pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for a more detailed accounting before any further funding is approved.

Al Jazeera also cites a former US naval officer who said modern drone warfare has made even advanced militaries vulnerable. The Pentagon declined to add details. The article says the cost debate may matter politically, but analysts quoted by Al Jazeera were uncertain it would shift the outcome of the upcoming US midterm elections.