DUBAI/TEHRAN (MNN); Iran shot down two United States military aircraft in separate incidents on Friday, marking a major escalation in the nearly five-week-long Middle East war and raising fears of a broader regional confrontation.
According to officials, one fighter jet was downed inside Iranian territory. A US crew member was successfully rescued, while another remained missing, prompting an ongoing search-and-rescue operation. The second incident involved a US A-10 attack aircraft, which Iranian state media claimed was struck by Iranian defenses and crashed into the Persian Gulf.
The developments represent the first confirmed loss of US aircraft in the conflict and come shortly after US President Donald Trump declared that Iran had been ācompletely decimatedā and vowed to āfinish the job.ā
Neither the White House nor the Pentagon provided detailed public information about the incidents. However, officials acknowledged that the status of at least one service member remained unknown. Speaking briefly, Trump described the situation as part of āwarā and said it would not impact ongoing negotiations.
Iranian media reported that one of the downed aircraft was an F-15E Strike Eagle, a dual-crew fighter jet. Reports also suggested that at least one pilot ejected safely, with local broadcasts urging civilians to assist in locating any surviving crew.
The incidents occurred amid intensified Iranian military operations across the region. Iran launched strikes targeting energy infrastructure and strategic locations in Gulf countries, including an attack on Kuwaitās Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery, where multiple fires were reported.
Authorities in Kuwait confirmed damage to a desalination plant, critical for supplying drinking water in the Gulf. Meanwhile, air defense systems were activated in several countries. Bahrain reported sirens, Saudi Arabia said it intercepted Iranian drones, and Israel confirmed incoming missile threats.
In the United Arab Emirates, officials shut down a gas field after debris from a missile interception sparked a fire. Simultaneously, strikes were reported in and around Tehran and Isfahan, though details remained unclear.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20 percent of the worldās oil and natural gas supplies pass, remains at the center of the crisis. Iranās control and restrictions over the waterway have disrupted global energy markets, driving oil prices sharply higher and raising concerns over inflation and supply chains worldwide.
Before the conflict, the strait handled a significant portion of global energy trade. Since hostilities began, markets have reacted strongly, with Brent crude prices surging to around $109 per barrelāmore than 50 percent higher than pre-war levels.
The conflict has taken a heavy human toll. More than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran since the war began on February 28, while casualties have also been reported in Gulf states, Israel and the occupied West Bank. In Lebanon, over 1,300 people have died and more than one million have been displaced amid ongoing fighting involving Israel and Hezbollah.
The war has also expanded into Lebanon, where Israeli operations against Iran-backed groups continue. On Friday, an Israeli drone strike near Beirut reportedly killed two civilians.
Global diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation have so far struggled to produce results. The United Nations Security Council is expected to address the crisis, as world leaders attempt to prevent further disruption to global trade and energy supplies.
President Donald Trump has issued mixed signals regarding the Strait of Hormuz, at times warning Iran to reopen it while also suggesting that other nations should secure their own energy supplies. In a recent statement, he said the US could reopen the strait and benefit economically if given more time.
As tensions continue to rise, analysts warn that the downing of US aircraft could mark a turning point in the conflict, potentially leading to deeper military engagement and wider regional instability.
