BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 6. The United States
lost ten aircraft, including helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAVs), and support planes, during a mission to rescue the crew of
a downed F-15E fighter jet in Iran, Trend reports, citing Military Watch Magazine
(MWM).
According to the report, low-altitude flights over Iran resulted
in the loss of two UH-60 helicopters, two MQ-9 UAVs, an A-10
support aircraft, and an Israeli Hermes 900 reconnaissance UAV due
to Iran’s air defense systems.
In addition, two HC-130J Combat King II planes and two MH-6
helicopters were deliberately destroyed by the US after making
emergency landings to prevent them from falling into Iranian hands.
Some of these aircraft may also have been destroyed by Iranian
strikes.
On February 28, the United States and Israel launched military
operations against Iran, striking major cities, including Tehran.
The White House cited missile and nuclear threats originating from
the Islamic Republic as justification for the attacks. The strikes
reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,
along with several other senior officials. In response, Iran’s
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a large-scale
retaliatory operation against Israel and has targeted U.S.
facilities across Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE,
Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Syria using ballistic missiles, cruise
missiles, and drones.
The conflict has placed the region’s energy infrastructure and
maritime shipping under serious threat. Due to security tensions in
the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have risen significantly.
Iran fully controls the Strait of Hormuz and allows passage only to
vessels it deems necessary.
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