Iran Claims US Aircraft Destroyed as Gulf Tensions Intensify Further

Iranian media outlets claimed that US aircraft were shot down during the incident. However, US Central Command quickly denied those reports, calling them false.

Just hours before the air defense alert, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly targeted four vessels operating near the Strait of Hormuz. At least some of those ships were said to have ties to the United States.

The incident added fresh tension to an already volatile region.

A newly released report by the Congressional Research Service shed light on the military and financial burden the United States has been carrying since the conflict began. The war, known as Operation Epic Fury, started after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026.

According to the report, at least 42 US military aircraft have been destroyed or damaged since fighting broke out. The total cost of the conflict has now reached nearly $29 billion.

Pentagon acting comptroller Jules Hurst told lawmakers that a large share of the spending has gone toward replacing and repairing advanced military equipment.

Unmanned aerial vehicles made up the bulk of US equipment losses. The military lost 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones during surveillance and intelligence missions over Iranian territory. With each drone valued at around $30 million, those losses alone exceed $720 million.

The report also noted the loss of one MQ-4C Triton surveillance drone, which went down during an operational mission in April.

Beyond equipment, the human cost has been significant. Pentagon records and updates from US Central Command confirm that 15 American service members have been killed since the conflict began. At least 538 others have been wounded.

The latest round of escalations has raised serious concerns about stability across the Gulf region. International shipping routes, especially through the Strait of Hormuz, remain under close watch as tensions continue to rise.