A new Congressional report has raised questions over the scale and cost of US military operations against Iran, including alleged losses involving fighter jets and drones.
A massive column of smoke rises over a city skyline following reported airstrikes, as tensions intensify around the Strait of Hormuz. (Photo: Xinhua via IANS)
A Congressional Research Service (CRS) report has found that the American military lost or suffered damage to 42 aircraft, including manned fighter jets, aerial refuelling tankers, special operations aircraft and drones, during the 40-day military campaign against Iran carried out jointly with Israel under Operation Epic Fury (OEF).
The disclosure comes months after the February-April conflict that sharply escalated tensions across West Asia and triggered concerns over a wider regional war. While the Pentagon has not officially released a complete battle damage assessment, the nonpartisan CRS, the research arm of the US Congress, suggests the scale of losses may have been far greater than publicly acknowledged during the operation.
Advertisement
The conflict began on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes on Iranian targets under what Washington called Operation Epic Fury. The operation involved air, missile and maritime engagements across different theatres in the Middle East.
Advertisement
The report noted that combat activity reduced after a ceasefire in April, though some military strikes resumed weeks later. It added that the situation in the region “remains fluid”.
READ THE FULL REPORT HERE
The report stated that the 42 aircraft counted as “lost or damaged”, described as “fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft, including uncrewed aircraft”, were identified through news reports as well as statements issued by the Department of Defense and the US Central Command (CENTCOM). The figures, it cautioned, could change due to classification issues, ongoing military assessments and attribution challenges.
Among the manned aircraft reportedly lost or damaged were four F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets, one F-35A Lightning II and one A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft. The report further listed seven KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refuelling aircraft, one E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, two MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft and one HH-60W Jolly Green II combat search-and-rescue helicopter.
A significant number of unmanned systems were also affected – 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones and one MQ-4C Triton high-altitude drone, accounting for 25 of the 42 aircraft in the count.
The report also referred to testimony by Acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules W Hurst III at a May 12 hearing, in which he told lawmakers that the estimated cost of military operations linked to Iran had climbed to USD 29 billion. The CRS report additionally noted that the Department of Defense had still not released a comprehensive assessment of losses suffered during the campaign.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi reacted sharply to the findings, claiming the report amounted to an acknowledgement by the US Congress of major military losses. In a post on X, he wrote: “Months after initiation of war on Iran, US Congress acknowledges loss of dozens of aircraft worth billions.”
Araghchi also claimed, without providing evidence, that Iran had become the first country to shoot down an F-35 fighter aircraft.
The CRS report, however, states only that one F-35A was damaged by Iranian ground fire on March 19, 2026, during combat operations over Iran; it does not confirm the aircraft was shot down or destroyed.
“With lessons learned and knowledge we gained, return to war will feature many more surprises,” Araghchi added.
Advertisement
