Iran claims US-led campaign suffered “dozens of aircraft” losses, warns of more surprises
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi
Abdullateef Fowewe
Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has claimed that recent US congressional findings confirm heavy aircraft losses during the US-Israel campaign against Iran, and warned that Tehran has new capabilities that would feature “many more surprises” should hostilities continue.
In a post accompanying excerpts from a May 13, 2026 Congressional Research Service (CRS) report, Araghchi wrote that “months after initiation of war on Iran, US Congress acknowledges loss of dozens of aircraft worth billions.”
He cited the CRS document as detailing 42 United States aircraft lost or damaged during Operation Epic Fury, the campaign that began on February 28, 2026.
The foreign minister highlighted a specific incident on March 19, saying Iran’s forces were “confirmed as 1st to strike down a touted F-35.”
The CRS report referenced by Araghchi notes an F-35A was damaged by Iranian ground fire that day and lists additional losses including F-15Es, MQ-9 drones, tankers, and other aircraft, with Pentagon replacement costs described as running into billions of dollars.
“With lessons learned and knowledge we gained, return to war will feature many more surprises,” Araghchi warned, using the report’s figures to frame the losses as validation of Iran’s defensive capabilities.
