A Congressional Research Service report estimates that 81 U.S. fixed‑wing and rotary‑wing aircraft, valued at up to $3.3 billion, have been damaged or destroyed since President Donald Trump launched Operation Epic Fury on February 28 in partnership with Israel. The strikes targeted Tehran and have resulted in retaliatory attacks that have struck aircraft, helicopters and drones.
The report lists a costly F‑35A fighter jet, a four‑engine E‑3 Sentry, and more than half of the losses as MQ‑9 Reaper drones used for surveillance and search‑and‑rescue. Depending on whether the Department of Defense replaces the lost assets, the total cost of the destruction is estimated at between $1.9 billion and $3.3 billion. Some aircraft, such as eight F‑15 Strike Eagles lightly damaged at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, have been repaired and returned to service.
The broader cost of the Iran conflict is more difficult to pin down. The Department of Defense Inspector General has estimated a price tag of $33.4 billion from the first day of the war until June 30, while CNN sources suggest the total could reach $45 billion, excluding damage to U.S. military bases in the Gulf. The war has also claimed 19 American soldiers and caused hundreds of injuries.
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of global oil shipments pass, has pushed gas prices higher, adding to the domestic affordability crisis. Trump said his Middle East envoy is making progress with Tehran, but stated that a deal is not his preferred outcome, and his national security team has discussed the possibility of restarting large‑scale U.S. military operations in Iran before next month’s elections.
