Overview
- Iranian forces shot down a U.S. F-15 on Friday inside Iran, with one airman rescued and a second still missing, following what U.S. officials described as the most costly day for American aircraft since the war began.
- An A-10 attack jet also went down near the Strait of Hormuz with its pilot safe, and two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters involved in the rescue took fire without casualties as recovery efforts continue.
- Trump warned Iran to make a deal or open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours and repeated threats to hit bridges and then power plants, days after a strike on a Karaj bridge that Iranian media said killed at least eight people.
- The IRGC said a drone struck an Israel-linked container ship, identified as MSC Ishyka, in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has restricted traffic to approved vessels and essential aid; the narrow waterway carries about a fifth of the world’s oil, so disruptions quickly affect fuel prices and supply chains.
- Talks to broker a cease-fire remain stalled, and the White House has asked Congress to lift U.S. defense spending to about $1.5 trillion in 2027, signaling Washington is preparing for a longer confrontation even as Iran reports a strike near its Bushehr nuclear plant and notifies the IAEA.