Post by : Badri Ariffin

A recent study from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) has disclosed that at least 42 military aircraft from the United States were either lost or damaged during the ongoing conflict in Iran. The report suggests that this number may rise further due to continuing combat, classification complexities, and difficulties in attributing damage.

The hostilities commenced on February 28 following coordinated military strikes by the US and Israel against Iranian sites. The attacks reportedly resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The Pentagon has recently acknowledged that costs associated with Operation Epic Fury have escalated to nearly $29 billion. During a hearing on May 12, Pentagon finance chief Jules Hurst III indicated that the increased costs largely stemmed from revised estimates regarding the repair or replacement of damaged military assets.

Details of Aircraft Losses

The CRS report enumerates the aircraft that were destroyed or damaged throughout the conflict, including:

• Four F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets

• One F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft

• One A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft

• Seven KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft

• One E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft

• Two MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft

• One HH-60W Jolly Green II rescue helicopter

• Twenty-four MQ-9 Reaper drones

• One MQ-4C Triton surveillance drone

An official comprehensive assessment of these combat losses has not yet been released by the US Department of Defense. The CRS compiled these figures based on news articles, Defense Department statements, and updates from United States Central Command (CENTCOM).

Iran’s Reaction to the Findings

Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi shared the CRS report on X, asserting that Iran acquired significant military insights during the two months of hostilities preceding the April ceasefire.

He cautioned that Iran would apply the lessons learned if the US resumes military actions and claimed that Iranian forces had successfully struck an F-35 fighter jet. According to him, Iran’s military is now more prepared and can offer “many more surprises” in any future confrontations with the United States.

#world news #Global News #Iran News #Global Updates