- By Priyanka Koul
- Fri, 20 Mar 2026 01:37 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Iran-US War: Amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, the war entered its 21st day on March 20 with no clear signs of de-escalation. Missile strikes, drone attacks, and air raids continue to intensify across the Middle East.
In the midst of this, the US military has suffered multiple aircraft losses during the conflict with Iran due to a combination of enemy fire, accidents, and friendly fire incidents in locations such as Kuwait and Iraq. At the same time, Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is disrupting global energy supplies, adding to the crisis.
How many aircraft has US lost so far amid Iran war?
- At least 16 US military aircraft have been destroyed since the start of the conflict with Iran, according to a Bloomberg News report. This includes 10 MQ-9 Reaper strike drones that were shot down, while several other aircraft have been severely damaged in attacks or accidents.
- Some of the most significant losses were due to accidents. Three US F-15 fighter jets were reportedly downed by friendly fire in Kuwait, while a KC-135 tanker was destroyed during a refuelling operation. All six crew members aboard the tanker were killed.
- Additionally, five KC-135 tankers were damaged in an Iranian missile strike while stationed at an airfield in Saudi Arabia.
- According to Bloomberg, citing sources, it was reported that so far only uncrewed MQ-9 Reaper drones have been directly shot down by Iranian air defences, with at least nine destroyed mid-air. One drone was hit by a ballistic missile at an airfield in Jordan.
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- In a separate incident, a US F-35 stealth fighter was forced to make an emergency landing after being struck by suspected Iranian fire. The pilot survived and is reported to be in stable condition.
- The repeated shootdowns of Reaper drones highlight the challenges of maintaining aerial operations in heavily contested zones. Houthi fighters in Yemen have also downed several of these drones, further complicating US operations in the region.
- Two additional Reaper drones were lost due to accidents. These drones are designed to be "attritable", meaning they are deployed in high-risk environments because they are unmanned and less costly to replace than crewed aircraft.
- The scale of these losses is notable when compared to past US operations. During the 2011 intervention in Libya, only three combat aircraft were lost over four months, including one drone. The current conflict has already surpassed that number within weeks, underscoring its intensity.
- Despite early strikes by the US and Israel targeting Iranian air defence systems, Tehran has managed to retain a strong defensive network. This has prevented the US from achieving full air superiority.
- Iran has also widened the scope of the conflict, launching retaliatory strikes on Gulf nations. Energy facilities in Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been targeted following attacks on Iran’s South Pars gas field.
Iran-Israel-US War
The Middle East conflict started following the killing of 86-year-old Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint military strikes by the US and Israel, after which Iran, in its retaliation, targeted Israeli and US assets in several Gulf countries and Israel, causing disruption in the waterway and affecting international energy markets and global economic stability since February 28.