First known equipment losses identified in Iran war zone

An open-source intelligence tracker has published a detailed accounting of military equipment losses following large-scale airstrikes exchanged between Israel and Iran on February 28, 2026, offering one of the first consolidated battlefield assessments tied to the latest escalation across the Middle East.

The losses were compiled by OSINT specialist Elmustek, who monitors equipment destruction across active conflicts.

The fighting began after Israel and the United States conducted coordinated airstrikes against targets in Iran and Iranian-linked positions inside Iraq, according to the compiled report. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting locations in Israel and several Gulf states, including Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.

The documented losses provide early insight into how both sides’ air defense systems, aircraft, and unmanned platforms performed during the exchange, while also highlighting the vulnerability of legacy equipment and fixed military infrastructure during high-intensity strikes.

Elmustek wrote that, “The following List aims to document the Equipment Losses which occurred during the Fighting.” The assessment focuses strictly on visually confirmed or otherwise verified equipment damage and destruction linked to the clashes.

According to the compiled data, Iranian forces suffered 24 confirmed equipment losses, including 21 destroyed systems and three damaged assets. Israeli losses documented in the same assessment totaled one platform destroyed.

Among the most notable Iranian losses were seven unidentified ballistic missile systems reported destroyed during airstrikes. The report lists each launcher as individually confirmed destroyed, suggesting targeted strikes against missile infrastructure rather than incidental battlefield damage.

Iran also lost one unidentified towed howitzer, reflecting strikes against ground-based artillery positions.

The assessment indicates that Iranian air defense assets were heavily affected. Three surface-to-air missile systems were hit during the strikes:

• One Arman air defense system damaged
• One Khordad-15 system destroyed
• One Majid short-range surface-to-air missile system destroyed

Radar infrastructure also sustained losses. Three radar systems were destroyed, including a Matla-ol-Fajr radar and two unidentified radar installations. Such systems play a central role in early warning and airspace monitoring, making them common targets during suppression of enemy air defense operations.

The destruction of radar coverage can reduce reaction time against incoming aircraft or missiles, leaving surrounding units more exposed during follow-on strikes.

The OSINT report lists six Iranian aircraft affected, four destroyed and two damaged. Confirmed destroyed aircraft include:

• One Northrop F-5 fighter jet
• One McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom fighter jet

In addition, four unidentified fighter aircraft were recorded as hit, with two destroyed and two damaged.

Both the F-5 and F-4 Phantom remain in Iranian service decades after their original delivery before the 1979 revolution. Their continued operational use reflects Iran’s reliance on upgraded legacy platforms amid long-standing sanctions limiting access to newer aircraft.

Iranian unmanned aviation losses included one Shahed-129 drone destroyed. The Shahed-129 is a medium-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle used for reconnaissance and strike missions.

Naval losses were limited but notable, with one unidentified ship reported destroyed during the exchange. The report does not specify whether the vessel was struck at sea or while docked.

Ground mobility assets also sustained damage. Confirmed destroyed systems included:

• One unidentified rocket launcher vehicle
• One unidentified military truck

These types of vehicles are frequently targeted due to their role in missile transport and launch operations.

The assessment records a single Israeli equipment loss: one Elbit Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicle destroyed.

Iranian state television presented the downed drone as a U.S.-made MQ-9 Reaper. The OSINT analysis states the aircraft was instead a Hermes 900, an Israeli-produced medium-altitude long-endurance drone widely used for surveillance and strike coordination.

The Hermes 900 serves intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions and can support precision targeting during air operations.

The compiled data offers an early, evidence-based snapshot of battlefield outcomes during a rapidly evolving conflict. It highlights how air defense survivability, unmanned systems, and missile infrastructure remain central factors shaping modern regional warfare and the operational balance during large-scale strike exchanges.