The war between the US and Iran is now into its fifth week, and it has only intensified despite President Donald Trump's ultimatum to the Iranians to make a deal. According to several media and news agency reports, two US warplanes have been shot down over the past 24 hours while operating over Iran.
A Reuters report cited US and Iranian officials confirming that the two planes had been downed, and that search operations are underway to rescue the pilots.
The downing of the warplanes come after Donald Trump earlier this week issued multiple warnings to Iran to make a deal or be hit “extremely hard” and be brought back to the “Stone Age”.
Here’s what we know so far in five points:
1. F-35 downed over central Iran turns out to be F-15
On Friday morning, reports emerged of the first of the two US warplanes being downed within 24 hours. It was reported that an F-35 had been shot down by the Iranian media. “A second US fifth-generation F-35 was struck and downed over central Iran by a new IRGC Aerospace Force air defence system. Given the massive explosion on impact and during the crash, the pilot is unlikely to have ejected,” a spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters said, as quoted by Press TV, according to Reuters.
It is worth noting that on March 19, Iran had claimed to have downed first country a US F-35 Lightning II, one of the most valuable US aircraft and a backbone of its fifth-generation warfighting capabilities. However, the US did not acknowledge this claim.
{{/usCountry}}It is worth noting that on March 19, Iran had claimed to have downed first country a US F-35 Lightning II, one of the most valuable US aircraft and a backbone of its fifth-generation warfighting capabilities. However, the US did not acknowledge this claim.
{{/usCountry}}Track US-Iran war updates LIVE here
2. The second fighter jet was hit next
Later reports confirmed that the first plane that was shot down on Friday was an F-15 jet and not a F-35 as reported by Iranian media, according to Reuters. The news agency said that US official had confirmed this development.
The Iranian government also posted videos of the takedown on its official handles on X.
On Friday evening, another US jet was reportedly hit by Iranian missiles. This time, it was an A-10 Warthog aircraft that was struck and crashed over Kuwait, with the pilot ejecting, according to two US officials cited by Reuters.
3. Two out of three pilots rescued
The news agency added that two out of the three crew members have been rescued by American forces, while one remains missing. Iran later said it was searching for the missing American pilot.
The downed F-15E Strike Eagle is a dual-role aircraft typically operated by a two-person crew. The A-10 is a US ground-attack aircraft designed for close air support missions, particularly against armoured vehicles and ground forces.
4. US' Black Hawks also attacked while on search operation
Two Black Hawk helicopters involved in the search effort for the missing pilot were hit by Iranian fire but managed to exit Iranian airspace, the two US officials told Reuters.
The extent of injuries among the crew members remains unclear. The status and whereabouts of the missing F-15E crew member are not publicly known.
5. What US and Iran are saying?
US President Donald Trump has been at the White House receiving updates on the search-and-rescue operation, a senior administration official told Reuters. The Pentagon and US Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, Iranians, who have been pummeled by American air power for weeks, posted celebratory messages following the reported downing of the planes. Iran’s Parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on X that the US and Israel’s war had been ‘downgraded from regime change to a hunt for their pilots’.