Blurb: The documented aircraft losses present a significant blow to US aerial assets
WASHINGTON DC
A new report has revealed that the United States military lost or suffered heavy damage to 42 aircraft during a intense 40-day joint bombing campaign with Israel against Iran.
Conducted under the military code name “Operation Epic Fury,” the ongoing conflict has involved massive air, maritime, and missile combat engagements across the Middle East.
According to the official report, the military operations initially began on February 28, 2026. While combat actions slowed down following a temporary ceasefire in April, localized airstrikes resumed within weeks, leaving regional conditions highly fluid.
Although the Pentagon has not released a comprehensive public assessment of combat losses, acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules W Hurst III recently testified that the estimated cost of these military operations has skyrocketed to an astronomical 29 billion dollars.
The documented aircraft losses present a significant blow to US aerial assets. The tally includes elite fighter jets like four F-15E Strike Eagles and a highly advanced F-35A Lightning II.
Additionally, the military lost an A-10 Thunderbolt II, seven KC-135 aerial refueling tankers, an E-3 Sentry AWACS, two MC-130J special operations planes, a rescue helicopter, 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones, and a specialized MQ-4C Triton drone.
Reacting to the unclassified data, Iranian official Seyed Abbas Araghchi stated that the US Congress has finally acknowledged losing billions of dollars in advanced weaponry. Araghchi proudly claimed that Iran’s armed forces are now confirmed as the first in history to shoot down a touted F-35 fighter jet, warning of further surprises.
