Pentagon Inspector General Report Details US Aircraft and Facility Losses in Iran Conflict

The Department of Defense inspector general released a report on Monday outlining the material and personnel losses the United States has incurred since the start of hostilities with Iran on Feb. 28. The document records the destruction of at least 30 MQ-9 Reaper drones and a range of manned aircraft, including four F-15E fighters, one F-35A, one A-10, several KC-135 refuelling tankers, an E-3 Sentry, and an MQ-4C Triton. Additional assets such as helicopters, attack drones and a surveillance submersible were also reported lost or damaged.

The report states that 11 U.S. service members were killed in action and seven died in non-hostile incidents, while 417 personnel were wounded. Casualties occurred at bases in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Iraq, and in separate aircraft crashes in Iraq and the Arabian Sea.

Damage to U.S. installations was extensive, with the inspector general noting that Iranian attacks destroyed or damaged hundreds of buildings across bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman and Jordan. The assessment also highlighted damage to diplomatic facilities in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, estimating total repair costs of roughly $184 million.

Financially, the report estimates $22 billion was spent on expended munitions and $33 billion in overall war costs through June 30. It also acknowledges shortages in ammunition stocks and supply-chain bottlenecks, contradicting earlier statements by the president that the United States possessed “virtually unlimited” ammunition.

"The United States is facing bottlenecks in its supply chain and a shortfall in munition stockpiles," the report said, reflecting concerns raised by senior defense officials.

The findings come as diplomatic negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz remain stalled, leaving the critical oil chokepoint largely blocked.