In the ongoing Iran war, the United States and Israel have together lost more than two dozen aircraft along with several high-value military systems, including advanced radar networks and key assets, as Iran’s strikes begin to mount both operational and reputational costs for Washington.In just 21 days of conflict, Iran is assessed to have shot down or damaged at least 17 aircraft and targeted multiple high-profile assets, including THAAD radar systems, an F-35 stealth fighter jet, and even the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier, though not all incidents were caused directly by enemy fire.While the US and Israel have inflicted heavy damage on Iran’s military capabilities, the scale and nature of their own losses have drawn attention, particularly as relatively low-cost Iranian systems appear to have successfully targeted some of the most advanced and expensive military equipment in the US arsenal.Before the war began, few analysts expected Iran, constrained by years of sanctions and operating an ageing air force, to inflict such damage. However, Tehran has demonstrated that even billion-dollar platforms can be vulnerable to unconventional and cost-effective tactics.

Mounting aircraft losses

Since the start of the conflict, the US suffered damage to 16 aircraft, including 12 MQ-9 Reaper drones, which have been extensively used in West Asia operations.Each MQ-9 Reaper drone costs up to US$56.5 million, indicating losses exceeding US$500 million in drones alone. These drones have been central to US surveillance and strike operations in the region.In addition, three F-15 Strike Eagle fighter jets were lost in Kuwait on March 2, reportedly due to a friendly fire incident that remains under investigation.The US Air Force also lost a KC-135 refuelling tanker over Iraq on March 12, killing all six crew members on board. Another KC-135 aircraft was damaged in the same incident.In a development that could have far-reaching consequences, Iran reportedly struck a US F-35 stealth fighter jet over its airspace on March 19. The US Central Command confirmed that the aircraft made an emergency landing and that the pilot was stable, though it did not specify the cause.If confirmed, this would mark the first instance of a country successfully hitting the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, one of the most advanced and expensive military programmes in history, with life-cycle costs exceeding US$2 trillion.The F-35, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is the world’s most widely produced stealth fighter, with nearly 1,300 units delivered so far.A successful strike on the F-35 could have implications beyond the Middle East, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, where countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Singapore operate the aircraft. It could also offer valuable tracking data to adversaries such as China and Russia.Meanwhile, Israel has reportedly lost over a dozen drones in Iranian airspace, bringing the combined aircraft losses of the US and Israel to 28.

High-value radar systems targeted

Beyond aircraft, Iran’s strikes have focused on degrading the US missile defence network in the region by targeting high-value radar systems.According to claims by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, up to four AN/TPY-2 radars associated with THAAD systems have been hit.One such radar was reportedly destroyed in Jordan early in the conflict. Two others are believed to have been targeted in the UAE, including one at Al-Ruwais Industrial City, while another may have been struck at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.Each AN/TPY-2 radar is estimated to cost between US$300 million and US$500 million.Globally, there are only 10 THAAD systems, of which the US operates seven, while the UAE and Saudi Arabia operate the remaining three. Reports suggest that up to four of these systems may now be inoperable due to the conflict.Separately, Iran has claimed to have struck an AN/FPS-132 Block 5 Upgraded Early Warning Radar at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.This radar, valued at around US$1.1 billion, is a long-range ballistic missile detection system capable of tracking threats up to 5,000 kilometres and supporting integrated defence systems such as THAAD, Patriot, and Aegis.Qatar has confirmed that the radar was hit and damaged. There are only six such systems in operation globally.The targeting of these radars represents a significant challenge to the US’s layered missile defence architecture in the region.The IRGC said that the destruction of these systems has effectively expanded Iran’s offensive capability, stating that “the missile hand of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been opened for successful target hits.”

USS Gerald R Ford incident raises concerns

The USS Gerald R Ford, the US Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, has also been rendered temporarily inoperable, though not due to direct enemy action.A fire broke out aboard the carrier, requiring over 30 hours of firefighting efforts by crew members. The vessel is now set to undergo repairs at the Naval Support Activity Souda Bay in Crete.The incident has prompted an investigation into its cause, with US media reports suggesting the possibility of deliberate sabotage.According to International Business Times (UK), “the US Navy is investigating whether sailors aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford deliberately started the fire that tore through the aircraft carrier’s main laundry spaces on 12 March.”“The investigation explicitly includes the possibility of deliberate sabotage by crew members, with one theory suggesting the fire was intentionally set to interrupt the carrier’s lengthy and repeatedly extended mission.”The USS Gerald R. Ford has been deployed for nearly ten months, far exceeding standard deployment durations. Its mission had already been extended multiple times, contributing to fatigue among crew members.Originally deployed in June last year, the carrier was later reassigned to multiple theatres, including the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Its prolonged deployment has delayed scheduled maintenance and upgrades at the Newport News Naval Shipyard in Virginia.Even if the fire was accidental, the strain on the vessel and its crew due to repeated extensions may have played a role.

Rising financial cost of war

Apart from equipment losses, the war is imposing a heavy financial burden on the United States.According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the cost of munitions alone exceeded US$12 billion in the first six days of the conflict, while the Pentagon estimated it at US$11.3 billion for the same period.This translates to a daily expenditure of nearly US$2 billion on munitions.For instance, each Tomahawk missile costs around US$3.5 million, and the US has already used over 300 of them, amounting to more than US$1.2 billion.To sustain the war effort, the Pentagon has reportedly requested over US$200 billion in additional funding from Congress to replenish depleted stockpiles and increase weapons production.The Washington Post reported, citing senior US officials, that the funds would be used to boost production of critical weapons systems after extensive use in strikes against Iranian targets.The scale of expenditure and depletion of munitions stocks could have broader strategic implications, potentially affecting US preparedness in other theatres, including a possible conflict scenario involving China or Russia.

Claims and counterclaims on Israeli aircraft

Amid the escalating conflict, Iran has also claimed to have struck an Israeli F-16 fighter jet over central Iran.“An F-16 hostile enemy fighter jet belonging to the Zionist regime was struck at 3:45 am in central Iran.”However, Israel has denied that any damage occurred, stating that one of its aircraft was targeted by a surface-to-air missile during operations but remained unharmed.The Israeli military said that “no damage was caused to the aircraft.”There is currently no independent verification of whether the aircraft was hit or sustained operational damage, and no evidence of a crash or wreckage has emerged.The competing claims highlight the fog of war and the difficulty in independently verifying battlefield developments.

Strategic implications

The Iran war has not only resulted in material losses but has also exposed potential vulnerabilities in some of the US military’s most advanced systems.From MQ-9 Reaper drones and F-35 fighters to THAAD missile defence systems and high-value radar networks, several frontline assets have come under pressure.At the same time, Iran’s ability to target these systems using comparatively inexpensive methods could reshape perceptions about modern warfare, particularly regarding cost asymmetry.As the conflict continues, both the operational and strategic consequences of these losses are likely to be closely studied by military planners around the world.

Sunil Gavaskar in DP World Youtube channel (Screengrab)

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has strongly rejected allegations of hypocrisy after his comments on Abrar Ahmed being picked by Sunrisers Leeds in The Hundred 2026 and his reports of attending Pakistani show in Dubai during Asia Cup 2025.Gavaskar had earlier raised concerns about Indian ownership indirectly benefiting Pakistani cricketers through overseas leagues. His remarks came in the wake of Abrar Ahmed’s signing, which reignited discussions around India-Pakistan cricketing ties at the franchise level. However, his stance drew criticism, with some accusing him of double standards, particularly pointing to his involvement in international commentary panels and a reported appearance on a Pakistan-related show.

Gavaskar’s Strong Clarification

Responding to the backlash, Gavaskar dismissed the accusations and clarified his position in an interview with Mumbai Mirror“Yes, I have been on commentary panels of ICC and ACC. The revenue went to all the participating countries from the ICC and ACC, but not from an Indian entity as far as I know. I don’t understand how you can say that I am a contributor since I am not making any payment to any commentator, Indian or any other nationality,” Gavaskar said. “I don’t know about other sports and what they are doing, all I am praying for is that Indians stop paying Pakistanis. If you have noticed, the reverse has never happened for decades, if ever.” he added.

Criticism for attending a show in Dubai

Another point of criticism was Gavaskar’s, but the former India captain Sunil Gavaskar appeared as a special guest on the DP World Dressing Room show on YouTube during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. During the interaction, Gavaskar reflected on his illustrious career, expressed his admiration for being back in a “dressing room” environment, and shared his views on several current cricketing issues.However, he firmly denied claims of financial or formal involvement on a similar show during the Asia Cup alongside former Pakistan greats Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, Gavaskar said,”I did not ask nor got paid for the show in Dubai.”

More than 20 countries on Saturday expressed readiness to help ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, condemning Iran’s closure of the strategic route.The UAE ministry of foreign affairs released a joint statement signed by the leaders of the UAE, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Czechia, Romania, Bahrain, Lithuania and Australia addressing the situation in the strategic strait.“We condemn in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, attacks on civilian infrastructure including oil and gas installations, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces,” the statement read.The statement said that freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law, including under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).It added that the consequences of Iran’s actions would be felt across the world, particularly by the most vulnerable communities.“Consistent with UNSC Resolution 2817, we emphasise that such interference with international shipping and the disruption of global energy supply chains constitute a threat to international peace and security. In this regard, we call for an immediate comprehensive moratorium on attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations,” the statement read.The statement said the countries were ready to support efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait and welcomed ongoing preparatory planning by other nations.It also welcomed the International Energy Agency’s decision to authorise a coordinated release of strategic petroleum reserves and said further steps would be taken to stabilise energy markets, including working with certain producing nations to increase output.The statement added that efforts would also be made to support the countries most affected, including through the United Nations and international financial institutions.“We will also work to provide support for the most affected nations, including through the United Nations and the IFis. Maritime security and freedom of navigation benefit all countries. We call on all states to respect international law and uphold the fundamental principles of international prosperity and security,” the statement read. After the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, Tehran retaliated with strikes on its Gulf neighbours and on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.Between March 1 and 19, commodities carriers made just 116 crossings through the strait, according to analytics firm Kpler, a drop of about 95 percent from peacetime levels.Iran’s de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas normally passes, along with repeated attacks on energy infrastructure across the Middle East, has driven global energy prices sharply higher.

People are swooning over an Army woman named Jessica Foster who was seen posing with an F-22 Raptor, dressed in camouflage in desert settings, and even appearing alongside Donald Trump. People are going gaga over the woman, but the reality is different. Experts said there was no public record of Foster’s military service and that the account, despite not being labelled AI, contained many indicators that she was fake. Between many of her pro-Trump posts, Foster also prominently displayed her feet, Washington Post reported.Foster’s viral rise highlighted what researchers described as a growing strategy to win online attention, with right-wing accounts mixing patriotism and soft-core pornography using fake women and convincing imagery to attract viewers, monetise interest and score political points.Accounts showing AI-generated women posing as Trump-supporting soldiers, truckers and police officers built large audiences on TikTok, Instagram and X, where thousands of commenters posted responses suggesting they believed the women were real.A similar pattern played out in recent weeks beyond the United States, with hundreds of AI-generated videos showing Iranian female soldiers and pilots cheering on the nation’s military spreading online, as the BBC first reported. One sign they were fake was that Iran bans women from combat roles.Sam Gregory, executive director of Witness, a video-advocacy group that researches deepfakes, said Foster exemplified how deceptive AI video generators can be. He said AI advances made it easier to create a consistent fake character across multiple photos or videos and place the character next to real public figures, making it appear the character was central to real events.By applying political trappings and current events to these characters’ fake lives, their creators probably hoped to maximise virality and stand out online, Gregory said. He said that once creators gained attention, they could, as in Foster’s case, direct users to a paid platform where they were asked to pay for more explicit scenes.Foster is “the apotheosis of what MAGA fantasizes about, all packed into one channel, but it’s obviously AI: There’s no provenance to the images, no history around her, visible glitches,” he said. “There’s any number of real and unreal beautiful women online, but having one that’s so proximate to power, around the big events of the day, has a different cachet.”The person running the Foster account did not respond to requests for comment. After The Washington Post sought comment, the account on Wednesday posted a new photo showing Foster cruising aboard a military vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.An Army spokeswoman said officials could find no records of Foster. The White House and Meta, which owns Instagram, did not respond to requests for comment.Foster’s first video, posted on Thanksgiving, showed the blue-eyed woman sitting beneath an American flag in a tight shirt and included a caption asking for comments from every “straight guy that likes a American army girl.”In this AI-generated image, the fictional Foster is seen with Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. (AI-generated image obtained by The Washington Post)In this AI-generated photo, Foster is seen with Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (AI-generated image obtained by The Washington Post)More than 50 photos and videos followed in the months since, showing meetings with first lady Melania Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin and football star Lionel Messi. Between those moments, Foster made bawdy jokes, gave speeches and joined her female comrades for pillow fights.“Best job in the world,” said a caption with a video last month showing Foster in a helmet and a tactical vest.The posts were described as outlandish, and details in the imagery provided clues, including insignia on her combat and service uniforms that suggested a muddled mix of qualifications, indicating she was either a staff sergeant, a Ranger school graduate or a one-star general.In one photo, she was depicted giving a speech to the “Border of Peace Conference,” described as a bungled version of Trump’s new Board of Peace. In another, she was shown holding a captive Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s former president, and her uniform listed her first name where it should list her last.Thousands of users still posted in her comment sections. Referring to Foster, Silicon Valley investor Justine Moore of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz said in an X post, “I’m genuinely floored by how many dudes are following influencers that are clearly AI.”Foster’s posts received more than 100,000 comments, many from accounts with men in their profile photos. Some users called her out as AI, while many celebrated her looks, sent her heart-eyes emojis or cheered her on.The verified Instagram account of a Brazilian transportation official liked most of her photos and told Foster she was “linda,” or beautiful. Another user asked, “Why do you NEVER reply?” The accounts did not respond to requests for comment.Foster’s Instagram, which included galleries titled “training,” “U.S.,” and “dailyarmy,” originally linked to an account on OnlyFans, a subscription marketplace popular with porn creators. An OnlyFans spokesperson said the account was removed for breaking rules requiring all creators to be verified human adults.In this AI-generated image, Foster is seen in Greenland with two other fake soldiers. (AI-generated image obtained by The Washington Post)Foster later linked viewers to an account on Fanvue, a smaller OnlyFans competitor that allows AI models and labels them as “generated or enhanced.”Her account there, “jessicanextdoor,” listed its location as Fort Bragg, the military base in North Carolina that is home to the Army’s Special Operations Command, and described Foster as a “public servant by day, troublemaker by night??.”The report described the approach as a sales-funnel technique used by influencers to convert free viewers into paying customers for more explicit content. Fanvue declined to share information about the account, which invited viewers to subscribe for “special stuff.”“Btw i respond to every message but be patient since i am not a robot,” the account said, with a winky-face emoji. Within days of its creation, the account received more than 10,000 likes.The report said deception online did not require AI. It cited cases where real women had their photos taken and used to distribute political messaging they did not endorse, including a 2023 case in which a Trump supporter was warped into a left-wing “rage bait” account, and a 2024 case in which European influencers were made to appear as MAGA supporters.Joan Donovan, an assistant professor at Boston University who studies media manipulation, said AI helped such accounts multiply because they were easy to create, endlessly customisable and offered a clear path to making money. She said the political sheen also helped ensure the images appeared in people’s news feeds.Donovan said the biggest risk was that the strategy could be transformed into information warfare, with anonymously run accounts deployed as a “bot army” to distribute propaganda, disinformation or wartime talking points at scale.“The danger of this is that we’re moving toward a society of the unreal,” Donovan said. “It’s one way to get political messaging across, and it’s effective. We don’t even know if selling feet pics is Jessica Foster’s final form.”

The number of meningitis B cases linked to an outbreak in Canterbury, UK, has risen to 34, with five new infections reported, British health authorities said on Saturday. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed that the total number of confirmed and suspected cases has increased from 29 a day earlier, according to The Independent. The outbreak, centred around the University of Kent and a popular student nightclub, has already claimed two lives and triggered a large-scale vaccination drive.Officials have cautioned that “sporadic household cases” of meningitis B could appear outside the outbreak’s main area in Kent. The cluster, described by health chiefs as “unprecedented,” is largely tied to a “superspreader” event at a Canterbury nightclub. While the peak of the outbreak appears to have passed, authorities said new cases may continue to emerge. Dr Anjan Ghosh, Kent County Council’s public health director, said on Friday that the outbreak is likely to remain mostly within Kent, with only a few cases appearing elsewhere, “which can be easily contained.” Secondary cases could involve people who did not attend the nightclub but were infected by someone who did.The outbreak has triggered a targeted vaccination campaign at the University of Kent, where more than 400 students were already queuing by the clinic’s 9 am opening on Saturday. Some reported arriving as early as 5 am or 7 am to secure a spot. Many students were prepared for a long wait, wearing masks and heavy coats.One student noted, “To be honest it looks like it was a good job we got here early because the queue is very long now.”The vaccination drive aims to protect students from meningitis B, a serious bacterial infection that has already claimed two young lives in the Canterbury area.

What is Meningitis and how it spreads

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), meningitis is a serious infection of the meninges, the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi, though bacterial meningitis poses the greatest global risk. Common bacterial causes include meningococcus, pneumococcus, Haemophilus influenzae, and Group B streptococcus.Meningitis spreads mainly through close personal contact, via respiratory droplets or throat secretions. Some bacteria are carried harmlessly in the nose, throat, or gut, but can occasionally invade the body, causing serious illness. Children under five are particularly vulnerable, though teenagers and young adults are also at risk, as highlighted by the Canterbury outbreak.According to NHS, the viruses and bacteria causing meningitis can be passed through close contact with an infected person. This includes activities such as kissing, sharing drinks or vaping devices, or spending extended time together in the same home. In outbreak settings, crowded social venues like nightclubs can accelerate transmission, especially among teenagers and young adults.

Symptoms to watch out for

Meningitis symptoms can develop suddenly and may appear in any order. Common signs include:High temperature (fever)HeadacheNausea or being sickRash that does not fade when pressed (though a rash may not always appear)Stiff neckSensitivity to bright lightsDrowsiness or unresponsivenessSeizures