US Lost 42 Aircraft During 40-Day Bombing Campaign Against Iran: Congressional Report

Key points

• US Lost 42 Aircraft During 40-Day Bombing Campaign Against Iran: Congressional Report Published By, Last Updated: May 19, 2026, 17:35 IST According to the report, the US Air Force and Navy lost a wide range of aircraft, including fighter jets, refuelling tankers, surveillance planes and drones.
• US jets launching from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on May 9, 2026. (AFP file photo) A US Congressional report has said that the US military lost or heavily damaged 42 aircraft during a 40-day aerial bombing campaign against Iran, launched jointly by Washington and Israel.
• The operation began on February 28, when both countries carried out coordinated strikes on Tehran, sparking the war that has since paused under a fragile truce brokered last month.
• The findings come from a report by the Congressional Research Service released on May 13. It covers losses linked to “Operation Epic Fury".
• The...