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

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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.

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.