Iran claimed responsibility for shooting down two US fighter jets as the search for the missing crew continues.
Published April 4, 2026
Iran claimed responsibility for the shooting down of two US fighter jets.
According to US media reports, an F-15E Strike Eagle crashed over Kogiruye and Boyer Ahmad provinces, and an A-10 Warthog crashed into the Gulf, with two American crew members rescued and one airman missing.
Recommended stories
1 list of itemsend of list
Iranians took to the streets of Tehran to celebrate what authorities described as a major military success.
Iranian officials said the downing of the plane showed Iran still had the ability to counter U.S. and Israeli forces, despite claims by the Trump administration that Iran’s military infrastructure had been severely damaged.
The incident marks a significant escalation in the conflict, and search and rescue operations for the missing US crew are underway.
Here’s what we know about the latest developments.
in iran
Massive escalation: After Iran shot down two American fighter jets, the U.S. military is conducting search and rescue operations for missing crew members. According to US media reports, a Black Hawk helicopter participating in the search was also hit by Iranian artillery fire, but managed to continue flying. Defense systems: Iran said a “new advanced defense system” shot down the plane, contradicting previous U.S. claims that its air defenses had been destroyed. Casualties and damage: According to Iranian authorities, at least 2,076 people have been killed and 26,500 injured in Iran since the war began on February 28, and the human toll continues to rise.
war diplomacy
Diplomatic impasse: Iran’s semi-state news agency Fars reported on Friday that Tehran had rejected a US offer for a 48-hour ceasefire. The United States has not confirmed or commented on the report, which cited anonymous sources. War of words: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has questioned whether the US is sincere in its diplomacy, accused the US government of hypocrisy, and called on the world to decide “who will take part in dialogue and negotiations and who will take part in terrorism” following the recent murder of the wife of a senior Iranian official. Appeal to the world: Pezeshkian said he consulted the Finnish president about US President Donald Trump’s threat to go “back to the Stone Age” and bomb Iran, calling the statement a clear admission of intent to commit “massive war crimes” and warning the international community to remain neutral.
on the bay
1 killed at UAE gas facility: An Egyptian national was killed and four others injured in a fire caused by falling debris from an intercept attack at a gas facility in Abu Dhabi, the government media outlet announced. Kuwait strikes report: authorities say Iranian attacks hit oil refineries and desalination plants, but Tehran denies targeting water facilities. Drone Interception in Bahrain: In Bahrain, debris fell from an intercepted Iranian drone, injuring four people and damaging several homes in the Sitra district, the Interior Ministry reported.
in the US
President Trump briefed on downed plane, Iran searching for pilot: President Trump has been briefed on the downing of a military plane in Iran that sparked a massive search and rescue operation for the missing crew, the White House announced. US media reported that another crew member had been rescued.
Propaganda impact: Geopolitical analyst Phyllis Bennis said the downing of the US fighter jet and the search for the missing airman could make it difficult for the White House to maintain public support for the war, especially among President Trump’s MAGA base. The incident “changed the propaganda equation,” she told Al Jazeera, even if it did not change the military balance.
Trump calls for $1.5 trillion defense budget: President Trump has asked lawmakers to approve a massive $1.5 trillion defense budget in 2027 as the United States faces rising costs from war with Iran and increased global security efforts.
in israel
Attack on Israel: Iran launches a missile attack on southern Israel, causing a fire at an industrial site in the Negev region. Economic and Social Damage: Simultaneous conflicts in Iran, Gaza, and Lebanon have cost Israel an estimated $112 billion and caused significant rifts in the country’s economy. Daily civilian life remains severely disrupted, and schools across the country remain closed. Political changes and public opinion: Despite the turmoil, 78 percent of Jewish Israelis still support war against Iran, but pollsters warn that this support may eventually erode. As the conflict continues, the Israeli government has moved further to the right, recently passing a record $271 billion budget and a highly controversial death penalty law targeting Palestinians.
in Lebanon and Syria
Man dies in Syria: Syrian state media say a man has been killed by Israeli fire in the country’s southern province of Quneitra, near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Lebanon Front: Israel destroyed two important bridges in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, while Hezbollah claimed responsibility for multiple missile attacks on Israeli soldiers and artillery in southern Lebanon.
oil, energy, food
Australia is facing a petrol shortage. The Australian government has urged motorists to refuel their cars at city petrol stations ahead of long journeys over the Easter holidays. Energy Minister Chris Bowen said hundreds of filling stations in rural towns were running out of diesel nationwide. Food prices rise: The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced that its food price index, which measures monthly changes in international prices for a basket of food products, rose 2.4% in March. Free bus rides in Pakistan: State-run public transport in Pakistan’s capital and most populous province will be free for the next month, officials announced Friday.
