A new report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) has revealed that at least 42 United States military aircraft were lost or damaged during the war in Iran. The report stated that the number could increase further because of ongoing combat activity, classification issues, and challenges in confirming damage attribution.
The conflict began on February 28 after the United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes on Iranian targets. According to the report, several senior Iranian figures were killed during the attacks, including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The Pentagon recently confirmed that the cost of military operations under Operation Epic Fury has reached nearly $29 billion. During a hearing held on May 12, Pentagon finance chief Jules Hurst III said a major part of the increase came from updated estimates for repairing or replacing damaged military equipment.
Aircraft Reportedly Lost Or Damaged
The CRS report listed several aircraft that were either destroyed or damaged during the conflict, including:
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Four F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets
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One F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft
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One A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft
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Seven KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refuelling aircraft
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One E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft
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Two MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft
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One HH-60W Jolly Green II rescue helicopter
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Twenty-four MQ-9 Reaper drones
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One MQ-4C Triton surveillance drone
The US Department of Defense has not yet released a complete official assessment of the combat losses. According to the CRS, the figures were compiled using news reports, statements from the Department of Defense, and updates from United States Central Command (CENTCOM).
Iran Responds To Report
Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi reacted to the CRS report by sharing it on X. He claimed that Iran gained valuable military knowledge during the two months of combat before the ceasefire in April.
Araghchi warned that Iran would use the lessons learned from the war if the United States resumes military action. He also claimed that Iranian forces were the first to successfully strike an F-35 fighter jet.
He said Iran’s armed forces are now better prepared and could deliver “many more surprises” in any future conflict with the US.
