US Central Command (CENTCOM) has claimed it destroyed most of Iran’s missile launchers, fighter jets and 11 Iranian vessels operating in the Gulf of Oman.
“Two days ago, the Iranian regime had 11 ships in the Gulf of Oman. Today, they have ZERO,” CENTCOM said in a statement posted on the social media platform X.
However, there are indications that several US airstrikes may have targeted Iranian decoys. Videos recently released by the United States showing strikes on what were believed to be Iranian jets and helicopters later appeared to depict painted images on the ground rather than actual equipment.
Iran’s intelligence service painted the ground with thermal paint simulating the silhouette of F-14 fighter jets.
The U.S. released images of missiles and bombs striking the decoys created by Iran. Meanwhile, the Iranian Air Force moved its fighter jets underground. pic.twitter.com/aiIkb9W2YZ
— China pulse 🇨🇳 (@Eng_china5) March 4, 2026
The US later released footage of missiles and bombs hitting these decoys, while the Iranian Air Force reportedly relocated its actual fighter aircraft to underground facilities.
According to reports, Iran’s intelligence service used thermal paint to create ground silhouettes resembling F-14 fighter jets, apparently designed to mislead surveillance and targeting systems.
In another case, Israeli military footage highlighted an airstrike on what was described as an Iranian Mi-17 helicopter. Subsequent analysis suggested the target was a ground drawing rather than a real helicopter.
Meanwhile, the United States has reportedly lost nearly $2 billion worth of military equipment since launching strikes against Iran on Saturday, based on estimates compiled by Anadolu Agency.
A major portion of the damage involves a US AN/FPS-132 early-warning radar system located at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, valued at about $1.1 billion, which was struck by an Iranian missile on Saturday. Qatari authorities confirmed the radar was hit and sustained damage.
Moreover, on Sunday, three F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were reportedly lost in a friendly-fire incident involving Kuwaiti air defences. While all six crew members survived, the aircraft were destroyed, with the cost of replacing them estimated at around $282 million.
