In a major escalation of tensions in the Middle East, Iran on Friday reportedly shot down two US military aircraft, raising fresh concerns over the stability of ongoing diplomatic efforts.
According to available reports, the aircraft involved were a two-seat US F-15E Strike Eagle and an A-10 Warthog. Two pilots have been rescued, while a third crew member remains missing, with search operations still underway.
The incident comes amid repeated assertions by the United States and Israel that they had secured full control over Iranian airspace. The reported downing of the aircraft has also cast shadow over the ongoing efforts and negotiations to resolve the conflict.
US President Donald Trump, when asked whether the incident would affect diplomatic talks with Iran, downplayed its impact. “No, not at all. No, it’s war. We’re in war,” he said, declining to provide further operational details.
When asked about the potential US responses if the missing airman were mistreated by Iranian forces, Trump said, “I cannot comment on it, because we hope that’s not going to happen.”
He also refrained from elaborating on ongoing search-and-rescue efforts, citing the sensitivity of the situation, and criticised media coverage of what he described as a “complex and active military operation.”
According to an Al Jazeera report, citing Iran’s Tasnim news agency, the A-10 aircraft was downed near the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, US officials, as reported by CNN, confirmed that one crew member from the downed F-15E has been successfully recovered and is receiving medical treatment, though the status of the second crew member remains unclear.
This would mark the first instance during the current conflict of a US aircraft being shot down over Iran. Initial debris analysis suggests the F-15E was assigned to the 494th Fighter Squadron based at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom.
The incident is likely to intensify military tensions while complicating already fragile diplomatic efforts in the region.
