“Real toll is far higher”: Iranian FM Araghchi cites US report listing 81 aircraft losses
Iranian FM Araghchi claims the real toll of US aircraft losses in operations against Iran is far higher than the 81 cited in a US report.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has issued a stinging critique of US military assessments, claiming that the actual number of American aircraft lost or damaged during operations against Iran is significantly higher than official figures suggest.
Speaking via a post on X on Thursday, Araghchi highlighted a recent report from the US Congressional Research Service (CRS) that lists 81 US military aircraft—including both fixed-wing and rotary-wing assets—as having been "reportedly lost or damaged" in operations against Iran since February 28.
The Escalating Toll of Combat Losses
Araghchi pointed out a dramatic increase in the reported losses over a short period. In May, the Congressional Research Service had acknowledged that Iranian Armed Forces had taken out 42 U.S. military aircraft. The latest figures have now surged to 81.
"Real toll is far higher," the Iranian Foreign Minister asserted, casting doubt on the transparency of US military data. To support his claim of a cover-up, Araghchi questioned the accessibility of US military installations, stating, "Proof? CENTCOM won’t let a sitting Senator inspect bases it claims are fine." He concluded his remarks with a sharp jab at US leadership: "You can fool all the people some of the time..."
Breakdown of Reported US Aircraft Losses
The CRS report, titled “U.S. Aircraft Combat Losses in Operation Epic Fury: Considerations for Congress,” provides a detailed list of the 81 aircraft that have been affected. The list includes a variety of high-value assets:
- Fighter Jets: 12 F-15E Strike Eagle, 1 F-35A Lightning II.
- Attack & Support Aircraft: 2 A-10 Thunderbolt II, 7 KC-135 Stratotanker, 1 E-3 Sentry, 2 MC-130J Commando II, 1 HH-60W Jolly Green II.
- Unmanned Systems: 1 MQ-4C Triton, 3 MQ-1 multi-role uncrewed aircraft, 45 MQ-9 Reaper multi-role uncrewed aircraft.
- Helicopters: 1 AH-64 Apache, 4 AH-6 Little Bird, 1 MH-60 Sea Hawk.
The report notes that these figures are subject to revision due to ongoing combat activity, classification issues, and the fact that some damaged aircraft may have been returned to active service.
Economic and Strategic Implications
The loss of these assets carries a massive price tag. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the cost of equipment losses as of August 1 is estimated to be between USD 1.9 billion and USD 3.3 billion, depending on the Department of Defense's replacement strategies.
The losses have raised urgent questions for US lawmakers regarding:
- Whether Congress has sufficient information to assess aircraft replacement plans.
- The budgetary impact of repairing and replacing high-tech assets.
- Force sufficiency and the capacity of the industrial base to meet demand.
- The operational risks associated with ongoing combat.
Pentagon Prepares for Potential Fresh Strikes
As tensions escalate, reports indicate that the Pentagon has instructed US Central Command (CENTCOM) to conclude preparations for the possible resumption of major combat operations against Iran. While a specific date for such strikes has not been set, US and Israeli officials have suggested that renewed operations could occur before the US midterm elections on November 3, or potentially ahead of upcoming Israeli elections.