Washington, Aug. 14 -- The United States lost a minimum of 45 MQ-9 Reaper surveillance and attack drones during its conflict with Iran, representing nearly one-fourth of its operational fleet and potentially incurring a financial loss exceeding USD 1.3 billion for taxpayers, according to a report by The Washington Post, citing US officials.

Clarifying the losses, an official told the newspaper that not all aircraft were downed by hostile fire, as a number of them crashed following a breakdown in the communication link between the drone and its operators.

As per the report, the US possessed nearly 185 Reapers when the conflict commenced on February 28, with 165 units assigned to the Air Force and 20 to the Marine Corps. Notably, no losse...