US F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet

EA on DW News: Iran Downs US F-15E Fighter Jet

EA on International Outlets: US-Israel War on Iran — Trump’s Deception and Incoherence

UPDATES: US-Israel War on Iran, Day 35 — Nothing New in Trump’s Latest Bluster

UPDATE 1929 GMT:

Iranian Kurdish factions are rejecting Donald Trump’s claims that the US sent arms to them during January’s nationwide protests over political and economic conditions.

“We did not receive any weapons during the time of the demonstrations in Iran,” said Hejar Berenji, the representative to the USA of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan.

UPDATE 1842 GMT:

A US military official has revealed that the Americans lost six warplanes — two C-130 transports and four MH-6 helicopters — in the rescue of the weapons specialist officer from the downed F-15E fighter jet in southwest Iran.

The aircraft were on a makeshift landing strip in the mountainous area. One MH-6 “Little Bird” retrieved the airman, but the C-130s nose gears were stuck in the dirt.

The Americans used multiple bombs to blow up the stranded aircraft.

So after a few hours they had to bring in three AFSOC Dash-8s to fly out the rescued WSO and the 100 or so personnel involved in the op.

The official put the cost of the lost warplanes at $300 million. The Iranians also shot down two MQ-9 Reaper drones.

UPDATE 1558 GMT:

Omani and Iranian Deputy Foreign Ministers have discussed options for ensuring the smooth transit of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Omani Foreign Ministry posted, “During the meeting, experts from both sides presented a number of visions and proposals that will be studied.”

UPDATE 1557 GMT:

Iran has acknowledged that Brigadier General Masoud Zare, commander of the Army’s Air Defense College, was killed in a US-Israeli attack on Iranian territory.

UPDATE 1228 GMT:

At least seven people, including a 4-year-old girl, have been killed by an Israeli airstrike on Kfar Hatta in southern Lebanon.

UPDATE 1141 GMT:

Long-time political prisoner Mostafa Tajzadeh has written in an open letter to Donald Trump from Evin Prison that Iranians will defend their country under any circumstances.

Tajzadeh, a former Interior Minister, has been in Evin for most of the period since the regime’s represssion of mass protests over the disputed 2009 Presidential election.

Tajzadeh warned that the continuation of the US-Israel War could turn into a full-scale tragedy for people who had no role in it. He questioned why Trump ordered attacks on Iran while negotiations were ongoing, and he criticized threats to bomb civilian infrastructure, including power plants, water desalination facilities, bridges, and refineries.

UPDATE 1128 GMT:

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf is portraying the US rescue of the crew member of a downed F-15E fighter jet as a Pyrrhic victory, as the Iranians claim several American warplanes and transport aircraft were destroyed.

UPDATE 1123 GMT:

Bahrani officials say a fire in a major petrochemical factory, caused by an Iranian attack (see 0642 GMT), has been contained.

UPDATE 1122 GMT:

Israel has struck a building in the south of Lebanon’s capital Beirut after issuing an evacuation warning to residents.

UPDATE 0848 GMT:

Local authorities in southwest Iran say five Iranians were killed and eight wounded during the US operations to rescue the crew member of the downed F15-E fighter jet.

The Iranian military is claiming that it destroyed two C-130 transport aircraft — the US military says they were trapped on a temporary airfield and blown up — and other warplanes.

UPDATE 0755 GMT:

The factory operations of the petrochemicals company Borouge in the UAE have been suspended because of fires set by falling debris from intercepted munitions.

The plant is in Ruwais, near the UAE’s western border with Saudi Arabia. It is a joint venture of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and Borealis of Australia.

No injuries were reported.

UPDATE 0642 GMT:

Bahrain’s authorities said they are fighting a fire after an Iranian attack.

The Kuwait Government said Iranian drone strikes damaged energy infrastructure and water desalination plants on Sunday.

There is “significant material damage and the shutdown of two electricity generating units”, but no casualties.

UPDATE 0636 GMT:

Iran has rejected Donald Trump’s demand to capitulate in 48 hours or face “all hell”.

On Saturday, Trump posted on social media about his 10-day “deadline” for Tehran to give up control of the Strait of Hormuz: “Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign [sic] down on them.”

Gen. Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi of Iran’s central military command said Trump’s threat was a “helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid action”: “The gates of hell will open for you.”

UPDATE 0631 GMT:

The toll in Lebanon has risen to 1,422 killed by Israel’s attacks since March 2.

Over 24 hours on Friday and Saturday, Israeli strikes killed 54 people and wounded 156.

UPDATE, APRIL 5:

The US has rescued the second crew member of an F-15E fighter jet downed by Iran’s air defenses on Friday.

The Strike Eagle warplane was shot down over the sprawling mountainous Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad region in southwest Iran. The pilot was rescued on Friday.

In a social media post, Donald Trump said the weapons operations officer sustained some injuries but “will be just fine”. He said there were no casualties in the search-and-rescue operation.

The operation involved hundreds of troops and dozens of US warplanes and helicopters, said American officials.

On Saturday night, US attack aircraft reportedly dropped bombs and opened fire on Iranian convoys as American forces converged on the airman’s location and engaged in a firefight, said “two former senior military officials”.

Two C-130 transport aircraft were trapped at a temporary airstrip inside the country, with three other warplanes sent into Iran to evacuate the weapons operations officer and soldiers.

The military then blew up the C-130s so they would not fall into Iran’s hands.

UPDATE 1459 GMT:

Iranian officials say US-Israel airstrikes targeted six petrochemical plants across Khuzestan Province in southwest Iran, wounding at least five people.

Local media reported the US-Israeli attacks on eastern and western Mahshahr city around 10:45 a.m.

The Public Relations Department of Mahshahr’s Petrochemical Region said that all employees have been evacuated from the plants, and electricity has been cut off in the region.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the strikes, saying the plants manufacture materials for ballistic missiles.

UPDATE 1432 GMT:

Iraq has closed the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran after airstrikes on the Iranian side killed an Iraqi citizen and injured five, most of them critically.

The crossing in Basra Province in southern Iraq is a main route for imports of vegetables and other food supplies from Iran.

UPDATE 1400 GMT:

An Iranian drone attack on the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia on March 3 did far more damage than publicly acknowledged, say current and former American officials said.

Two Iranian drones penetrated a secure part of the Embassy where several hundred people work during the day and heavily damaged three floors. The CIA station was among the areas hit.

The strikes at 1:30 a.m. sparked a blaze that raged for half a day. Parts of the embassy are damaged and cannot be recovered.

The officials emphasized that if the drones had hit during working hours, it could have been a mass-casualty event.

UPDATE 0958 GMT:

A US-Israel attack has targeted Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, with a projectile striking the grounds near the facility, say Iranian officials.

One person was killed and the plant’s auxiliary buildings sustained damage. The main section of the power plant was not hit, and operations remain unaffected.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said no increase in radiation levels has been recorded. However, Director General Rafael Grossi expressed “deep concern about the reported incident” and said nuclear power sites or nearby areas “must never be attacked”.

Russia’s State nuclear company Rosatom evacuated a further 198 of its staff from Bushehr on Saturday.

The evacuations were planned before Saturday’s strikes. A “diplomatic source” said senior officials of the Israel Defense Forces are coordinating with Moscow to secure safe passage outside Iran for Russian nationals who worked at the site.

UPDATE 0930 GMT:

A second Turkish-owned ship has passed through the Strait of Hormuz.

Turkey’s Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said there were 15 Turkish-owned ships in the Strait at the start of the US-Israel War on Iran. Four ships have not requested to leave, two are energy carriers, and two are engaged in regional trade.

“We are working in coordination with the Ministry of foreign affairs to remove the remaining nine ships,” he said.

Uraloglu announced safe passage of the first ship on March 13 after authorities received permission from Iran.

UPDATE 0656 GMT:

US intelligence assesses that Iran is unlikely to open the Strait of Hormuz soon, as its control is the only leverage it has over the US-Israel War.

Three officials said Iran may keep energy prices high to pressure Trump into a quick end to American attacks.

Trump blustered on Friday, “With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, + MAKE A FORTUNE. IT WOULD BE A “GUSHER” FOR THE WORLD???”

ORIGINAL ENTRY: The US lost two warplanes on Friday in its war on Iran, denting the proclamations of Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that their forces are unchallenged in the air.

An F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down by air defenses in southwest Iran early in the day. The US military immediately launnched launched a search-and-rescue operation before Iran reach any survivors in the mountainous Kohkilouyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, which spans more 15,500 square km (5,900 square miles).

One crew member was rescued. The second is missing.

A social media account, claiming to be linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, posted a photo of an ejector seat in a desert landscape. Justin Bronk of the London-based Royal United Services Institute assessed, “If genuine, it would suggest that at least one of the two aircrew did eject safely.”

The two-seated F-15E was from the 48th Fighter Wing, based at RAF Lakenheath in the UK.

Around the same time, a US A-10 Warthog attack plane crashed near the Strait of Hormuz. The lone pilot was rescued.

The Iranian Army claimed the A-10 was downed by air defense systems.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had been briefed but the White House offered no further information. In a short interview, Trump refused to discuss the search-and-rescue mission while insisting the incident would not affect any negotiations with Iran: “No, not at all. No, it’s war. We’re in war.”

Iranian officials said the US had offered a 48-hour ceasefire, presumably so the search and rescue could be carried out without any confrontation.

Two US helicopters were struck by Iranian fire. All service members were safe, and the aircraft returned to their bases.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who has rejected the Trump camp’s attempt to promote him as an Iranian leader accepting US demands, tweeted.