The ongoing US-Iran conflict has taken a dramatic turn after a newly released Congressional Research Service (CRS) report claimed that 42 American military aircraft have been destroyed or severely damaged since fighting erupted in the Middle East on February 28. The report has triggered sharp reactions from Tehran, with Iran warning Washington of “more surprises” if military operations continue.
According to the CRS assessment, the losses include some of the US military’s most advanced combat platforms, ranging from F-15 and F-35 fighter jets to MQ-9 Reaper drones and strategic support aircraft. The report was compiled after reviewing Pentagon statements, CENTCOM briefings, and multiple media reports linked to the ongoing war.
Among the aircraft reportedly lost were four F-15E Eagle fighter jets, one F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter, and one A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft. The report also listed seven KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft and an E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control aircraft among the damaged or destroyed assets.
The CRS further claimed that the conflict affected two MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft and an HH-60W Jolly Green II combat rescue helicopter. A major portion of the losses reportedly involved unmanned aerial systems, including 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones and one MQ-4C Triton surveillance drone.
Earlier this month, the Pentagon acknowledged that the war with Iran had already cost the United States nearly $29 billion. On May 12, the US Defense Department stated that a significant share of the spending was being used to repair military hardware damaged during combat operations in the Middle East.
However, the Pentagon has not yet released any official consolidated casualty or equipment loss data related to the war. The CRS report is therefore being viewed as one of the most detailed independent assessments so far regarding the scale of American military damage during the conflict.
Iran quickly reacted after the report surfaced publicly. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned that the US military could face “even greater shocks” if President Donald Trump’s administration refuses to halt military action against Tehran.
The latest revelations are expected to intensify global concerns over the rapidly escalating Middle East conflict, especially as both Washington and Tehran continue exchanging threats while military tensions remain dangerously high across the region.
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