US military planes worth up to $3.3 billion now lost or damaged in Iran war, Congress report says

A Congressional Research Service analysis finds that 81 American airplanes and helicopters, drones included, have been damaged or destroyed since President Donald Trump began his war with Iran. Using Congressional Budget Office numbers, the analysis puts the losses between $1. 9 billion and $3. 3 billion, with the higher end applying if the Department of Defense chooses to replace what was lost. The Independent reports that MQ-9 Reaper drones make up over half of the total, alongside an F-35A and an E-3 Sentry. Some aircraft have returned to duty, among them eight F-15 Strike Eagles that were only lightly hit in an Iranian attack on a Jordanian air base.

The war began February 28 with U. S. and Israeli airstrikes. Overall spending is harder to pin down: the Pentagon's inspector general estimated $33. 4 billion through June 30, while CNN's sources say $45 billion, not counting damage to Gulf bases. Nineteen American service members have died and hundreds have been wounded. Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has pushed up gas prices at home.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Independent’s reporting. Read the full story at The Independent →