A heated Senate committee hearing in Washington revealed fresh concerns over the military cost of the Iran conflict after Democratic Congressman Ed Case claimed the United States had lost 39 aircraft since fighting began on February 28. He cited figures from a US defense publication while questioning Pentagon Chief Financial Officer Jay Hurst about the growing financial burden created by aircraft destruction and extensive combat damage during the prolonged regional conflict.
During the hearing, Case said the reported losses included aircraft destroyed in combat operations as well as several others suffering serious damage. He asked whether the Pentagon had calculated the long-term retention and repair expenses linked to those losses. However, Hurst avoided confirming the figures directly and stated that complete repair costs could only be estimated after detailed inspections and technical evaluations of each damaged aircraft were completed by defense experts.
Read more : Pakistan rejects report on Iranian aircraft at Nur Khan airbase
According to the defense report referenced during the session, the US Air Force conducted nearly 13,000 flights throughout the conflict with Iran. The report further claimed that 39 aircraft were destroyed while another 10 sustained varying degrees of damage during operations across the region. Among the most serious allegations, the report stated that an F-35A Lightning II fighter jet was struck inside Iranian airspace, while a Boeing E-3 Sentry surveillance aircraft was reportedly destroyed during the intense military exchanges.
Nevertheless, Pentagon officials stopped short of publicly confirming any of the alleged aircraft losses during the hearing, leaving several lawmakers demanding greater transparency from defense authorities. The claims also could not be independently verified, adding further uncertainty to reports surrounding the scale of US military damage suffered during the conflict. Even so, the discussion highlighted growing political pressure on Washington to explain the true operational and financial impact of the war.
Read more : Official Response to CBS Report on Iranian Aircraft in Pakistan
Regional tensions escalated sharply after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran on February 28, prompting Tehran to retaliate against Israel and several US allies in the Gulf region. In response, Iran also moved to close the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting maritime traffic and raising fears of wider economic instability. The conflict later entered a fragile pause after Pakistan mediated a ceasefire that officially took effect on April 8.
Although negotiations in Islamabad failed to secure a permanent settlement, the truce was later extended by US President Donald Trump without announcing a clear deadline. As diplomatic efforts continue, questions surrounding the reported aircraft losses and the overall cost of the Iran war are expected to remain central issues in Washington’s political and military debates over the coming weeks.