Tehran, Iran — April 3, 2026
Iranian forces shot down a US fighter jet for the second time in five weeks, according to state media, as regional tensions escalate following drone strikes and retaliatory actions across the Middle East.
Iranian Reports and US Response
Iran’s state-affiliated Tasnim news agency reported that an American pilot was captured after ejecting from the downed aircraft. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for the strike, marking the second such incident since hostilities intensified nearly five weeks ago.
The US government confirmed the loss of a fighter jet but did not specify the model. Military experts analyzing social media footage suggested the wreckage might belong to an F-15 rather than an F-35, though this remains unverified. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) had previously denied Iranian claims of downing American jets.
Drone Strikes and Regional Fallout
Earlier, Iranian media reported a drone attack on a Red Crescent aid warehouse in Bushehr, destroying two containers. Meanwhile, a refinery in Kuwait was also targeted by drones, igniting fires in multiple units. These strikes follow a pattern of escalating attacks, including rocket fire targeting Israel on Friday.
In southwestern Iran, a regional governor offered rewards for the capture or killing of US pilots, signaling heightened local hostility. The US military launched a rescue operation to retrieve the downed jet’s crew before Iranian forces could reach them, though the fate of additional personnel remains unclear.