President Donald Trump is facing growing pressure over the mounting costs of the ongoing Iran war after reports revealed that 42 American aircraft have been either destroyed or damaged since fighting began earlier this year, including multiple fighter jets reportedly lost to friendly fire incidents.
According to a congressional report cited by the Daily Mail, the losses include 32 aircraft destroyed outright since the conflict began on February 28 as part of Operation Epic Fury.
Among the most significant losses were four F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets, including three reportedly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses in a catastrophic friendly fire incident on March 1.
The aircraft are estimated to be worth roughly $100 million each when factoring in weapons systems, equipment and operational costs.
A fourth F-15E was reportedly shot down by Iranian forces on April 3, triggering what Trump later described as “the most daring operation in US history” to rescue the stranded crew members.
The rescue operation itself reportedly resulted in additional major losses.
According to the report, two MC-130J Commando II aircraft used for covert special operations had to be intentionally destroyed on the ground inside Iran after becoming unable to depart during the mission.
An A-10 Warthog attack aircraft was also reportedly shot down during the same operation, as the Daily Mail reported.
The report further states that an American KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq on March 12, killing all six crew members aboard.
The largest category of losses involved drones.
Twenty-four MQ-9 Reaper drones valued at approximately $30 million each were reportedly destroyed during the conflict, accounting for hundreds of millions of dollars in losses alone.
Ten additional aircraft were reportedly damaged rather than destroyed.
Six of those aircraft were hit while parked at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia during an Iranian missile and drone barrage.
One of the damaged aircraft was an E-3 Sentry AWACS surveillance plane, considered among the Air Force’s most valuable airborne intelligence assets. According to the report, the aircraft was parked on an “unprotected taxiway” when Iranian missiles struck the base.
An HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter was also reportedly damaged by small-arms fire during the rescue operation for the downed F-15E crew.
Separate reporting cited by the Daily Mail suggested the true losses may be even higher.
ABC News reportedly stated that four Little Bird special operations helicopters were also destroyed during the rescue mission, though those aircraft allegedly were not included in the congressional tally.
The financial cost of the conflict has also surged dramatically.
Pentagon Comptroller Hay Hurst testified before Congress earlier this month that the total cost of the Iran war has now ballooned to approximately $29 billion, up from $25 billion just weeks earlier.
Much of the spending has reportedly gone toward replacing munitions, repairing damaged equipment and maintaining deployed forces throughout the region.
The revelations come as tensions continue rising between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over how aggressively to continue military operations against Iran.
According to Israeli media reports, Trump and Netanyahu recently held what was described as a “lengthy and dramatic” phone call regarding whether Israel should resume broader strikes against Iranian targets.
Trump has reportedly pushed for additional negotiations focused on dismantling Iran’s nuclear program, while Netanyahu is said to increasingly doubt diplomacy will succeed.
Meanwhile, Iran’s continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has rattled global energy markets and contributed to rising fuel prices worldwide, increasing political pressure on the White House as the conflict drags deeper into 2026.
