Friendly fire, ground attacks, and Iranian fire have taken down F-15s, an A-10, an E-3 Sentry, and an F-35; mounting losses fuel global calls for ceasefire.

By The South Asia Times

WASHINGTON  - The United States Air Force has lost at least seven manned aircraft since launching Operation Epic Fury against Iran on February 28, CNN reported Saturday, as the military campaign faces mounting setbacks and growing international criticism.

The destruction of an F-15E Strike Eagle and an A-10 Thunderbolt II in separate incidents on Friday brought the total number of US crewed aircraft lost in the conflict to seven, according to the report. One US service member remains missing after the F-15E was shot down over Iranian territory, while the A-10 pilot was rescued.

But those two losses are only the latest in a string of costly incidents that have raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the US military campaign.

On March 2, just three days into the war, three F-15 fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses in a friendly fire incident over Kuwait. All six crew members safely ejected. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters this week that the three pilots have since returned to flying missions against Iran—but the incident exposed dangerous coordination gaps among US and Gulf allies.

On March 12, six US personnel were killed when a KC-135 refueling tanker crashed in Iraq. The US military stated the aircraft was involved in an "incident" with another aircraft during operations. The second aircraft landed without issue. The crash remains under investigation, but officials have not ruled out hostile fire.

In one of the most significant losses, an E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft—a crucial command-and-control platform—was destroyed while parked on the ground during an Iranian strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on March 27. The attack reportedly injured at least 10 US service members. A US Air Force tanker was also damaged in the strike.

The loss of the E-3 Sentry has degraded US battlefield awareness in the region, according to military analysts.

In a separate incident late last month, a US F-35 Lightning II fighter jet—the most advanced stealth aircraft in the US inventory—was forced to make an emergency landing at a US base in the Middle East after being hit by what is believed to be Iranian fire, CNN reported, citing two sources familiar with the situation.

The extent of damage to the F-35 has not been disclosed, but the incident represents a significant embarrassment for the Pentagon, which has touted the F-35's stealth capabilities as making it virtually invisible to Iranian air defenses.

- 'Iran Is Winning,' Says Mearsheimer

The mounting losses have emboldened critics of the war, including prominent American political scientist Dr. John Mearsheimer, who told Pakistani television this week that "Iran is winning the war."

"Iran has a vested interest in not ending the war until it gets what it demands," Mearsheimer said on Express 24/7's "Full Frame" with Fahd Husain. "The United States cannot make the necessary concessions to Iran at this point in time. So the war will go on."

Mearsheimer argued that as the conflict escalates, "Iran has an advantage over the United States"—not necessarily on the traditional battlefield, but in its ability to inflict economic pain and outlast American political will.

The human cost of the war continues to mount. Iranian officials report that at least 1,340 civilians have been killed since February 28, including more than 170 children. Among the dead is Iran's then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose killing in an early strike shocked the region and hardened Tehran's resolve.

Iran has retaliated with waves of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. The Strait of Hormuz—a vital chokepoint for global oil shipments—has been effectively closed or severely restricted, sending energy prices soaring worldwide.

The escalating conflict and mounting US losses have coincided with a growing diplomatic backlash against the Trump administration. European allies, including Germany and France, have publicly dismissed Trump's threats and demands for military support.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's spokesman, asked about Trump's latest criticisms of NATO, responded dismissively: "This isn't the first time he's done this. And since it's a recurring phenomenon, you can probably judge the consequences for yourself," ABC News reported.

French President Emmanuel Macron, once regarded as the ultimate "Trump-whisperer," has adopted a sharply critical tone. "There is too much talk, and it's all over the place," Macron told reporters in Seoul. "We all need stability, calm, a return to peace—this isn't a show!"

A 41-nation virtual meeting chaired by the United Kingdom -- originally intended to address the Strait of Hormuz crisis—ended with a clear consensus: no involvement in the strait until a ceasefire is achieved.

With seven aircraft lost, dozens of personnel killed or wounded, and a missing service member still unaccounted for inside Iran, the Trump administration faces mounting pressure to explain its strategy.

Military analysts note that the loss of an E-3 Sentry -- a rare and irreplaceable asset -- along with damage to an F-35 and the downing of multiple F-15s and an A-10, represents a significant erosion of US air power in the region.

The Pentagon has not released an updated public statement on aircraft losses since Friday. The White House confirmed President Trump has been briefed on the situation but has offered no clear path forward.

As one senior European diplomat told CNN on condition of anonymity: "The United States walked into this war believing it could win quickly and decisively. Seven lost aircraft later, that illusion i