Overview
- An F-15E Strike Eagle went down in Iran on Friday, with one crew member rescued and a second still missing as U.S. and Israeli forces conduct a search-and-rescue mission.
- In a separate incident near the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, an A-10 attack jet was struck and its pilot ejected and was recovered, according to multiple outlets citing U.S. officials.
- Rescue aircraft came under fire during the hunt for the F-15E crew, with reports that a Black Hawk was hit by small-arms fire and landed safely with wounded crew.
- Iranian state television urged residents to turn in any “enemy pilot” and promised a reward, increasing danger for the missing airman on the ground.
- The losses are the first U.S. manned aircraft downed over Iran in this war and they signal a sharper escalation that could further strain energy flows and shipping already disrupted in the Gulf.