CRS Report: 42 US Military Aircraft Lost in Iran Conflict, Costs Approach $29 Billion

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

According to a recent report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the ongoing conflict in Iran has seen at least 42 military aircraft from the United States lost or damaged. The report highlights that numbers could rise due to continuous hostilities, classification complications, and difficulties in confirming the extent of damage.

The conflict commenced on February 28 when the US and Israel executed synchronized military strikes on targets in Iran. The report notes that several high-ranking Iranian officials, including the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, were killed in these assaults.

The Pentagon has reported that the financial implications of military operations under Operation Epic Fury have surged to approximately $29 billion. During a session on May 12, Pentagon financial officer Jules Hurst III stated that much of this increase results from revised estimates for the repair or replacement of damaged military assets.

List of Aircraft Affected

The CRS report enumerates several military aircraft reported lost 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 refuelling 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

The US Department of Defense has not yet provided a conclusive official evaluation of the combat losses. The CRS compiled these figures through news sources, statements from the Department of Defense, and updates from the United States Central Command (CENTCOM).

Iran's Response to the Report

In reaction to the CRS report, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi shared it on X, asserting that Iran gained significant military insights during the two months of fighting preceding the ceasefire in April.

Araghchi cautioned that should the US resume military actions, Iran would leverage the knowledge gained from the conflict. He claimed that Iranian forces successfully struck an F-35 fighter jet for the first time.

He emphasized that Iran’s military has become better equipped and hinted at the capacity to deliver "numerous surprises" in any future engagements with the United States.

#Global News #World News #Global Updates #Iran News