Democratic Congressman Ed Case acknowledged that the United States suffered major aerial losses during the war with Iran. According to him, 39 American aircraft were destroyed during the conflict. Moreover, the revelation has triggered renewed debate about U.S. military strategy and wartime losses.
During a special Senate committee hearing, Ed Case questioned Pentagon Chief Financial Officer Jay Hurst about the damage suffered during the war. However, when asked directly about American losses in Iran operations, Hurst reportedly avoided giving clear answers to several questions. Consequently, the hearing drew significant attention from political and defense observers.
The congressman also referred to a report published by the American defense website The War Zone. According to the report, the U.S. Air Force conducted nearly 13,000 flights during the 39-day conflict against Iran. During that period, 39 aircraft were reportedly destroyed, while another 10 suffered various levels of damage.
The report claimed that the actual number of destroyed aircraft could be even higher. It stated that 24 USAF MQ-9 Reaper drones were lost during the conflict. In addition, five combat aircraft were reportedly destroyed in the air, including four F-15E Strike Eagles and one A-10 Warthog aircraft.
According to the website, an F-35A fighter jet was also reportedly hit inside Iranian airspace. The report described it as the first known destruction of a fifth-generation fighter aircraft in combat. However, it added that the pilot successfully escaped safely after the incident. Furthermore, three F-15E aircraft were reportedly destroyed within Kuwaiti airspace.
The report also claimed that a valuable E-3G Sentry aircraft was destroyed, describing it as a major loss for the United States. Additionally, some military assets were allegedly destroyed intentionally inside Iranian territory to prevent them from falling into Iranian hands. In conclusion, the admission regarding the loss of 39 aircraft during the Iran war could intensify global discussions about the scale and impact of the conflict.