1 Crew Member Rescued After US Aircraft Was Shot Down In Iran: US
Iranian TV had said at least one crew member ejected, and urged Iranians to deliver any “enemy pilot” to police for a “precious prize.”
One crew member has been rescued after an American aircraft was shot down in Iran, U.S. and Israeli officials said Friday on condition of anonymity. Iranian TV had said at least one crew member ejected, and urged Iranians to deliver any “enemy pilot” to police for a “precious prize.” This was the first U.S. aircraft lost in Iran during this war. The White House said President Donald Trump has been briefed.
Major developments:
- A second US fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet was struck and downed over central Iran by a modern air-defence system of the Islamic Republic's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), with officials saying the pilot is unlikely to have ejected, Iranian state media reported on Friday. According to state media Press TV, citing a statement attributed to the Spokesman of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, it was claimed the jet was downed by a new IRGC Aerospace Force air-defence system. It further stated that the impact and crash generated a "massive explosion" that made pilot survival unlikely.
- Trump threatens Iran destruction: President Donald Trump warned that US forces have yet to begin "destroying what's left in Iran", as he said more of the country's bridges and energy infrastructure were in his sights. The US military "hasn't even started destroying what's left in Iran. Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants!" Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, several hours after he said Iran's tallest bridge had been destroyed.
- New Iran missile salvo: The Israeli military said in a statement it had "identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel", adding that "defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat". There were no immediate reports of any casualties.
- Fresh Gulf attacks: Kuwait's military said its air defences were working to intercept missiles and drones fired towards the Gulf nation's territory. A drone attack on a refinery owned by Kuwait's national oil company sparked fires at several of its units, state media said. Bahrain's interior ministry reported sirens sounding in the country and told residents to head "to the nearest safe place", without providing further details.
- Hezbollah rockets: Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said in separate statements that its fighters targeted at least three communities in northern Israel with rockets, as it keeps up attacks in support of ally Iran.
- Iran attacks US, Israeli interests: A military statement carried on Iranian state television said that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had launched a fresh wave of attacks on American steel factories in the UAE and Bahrain, as well as an arms factory in Israel. The statement said the latest salvos were in response to attacks on its own steel industries.
- US aircraft carrier leaves Croatia: The USS Gerald R. Ford departed Croatia after docking for five days, the US Navy said, while not specifying a destination. The ship played a major role in US-Israeli strikes on Iran, but sailed to Crete and Croatia following a fire in its laundry facilities on March 12 that injured two sailors and damaged some 100 beds.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has asked the Army’s top uniformed officer, Gen. Randy George, to step down, the Pentagon said Thursday without giving a reason for the departure as the United States wages a war against Iran. The ouster, reported earlier by CBS News, is just the latest of more than a dozen firings of top generals and admirals by Hegseth since he took office last year.
- Houthis launch missile targeting Israel: Houthi rebels, based in Yemen and allied with Iran, launched a fourth missile attack on Israel, after stepping into the war last week. The Israeli military said earlier it had detected a missile launched from Yemen.
- 'Maximum effort': Iraq is exerting "maximum effort" to prevent any escalation on its territory, the foreign ministry said, after the US embassy in Baghdad warned of possible attacks in the city by pro-Iran armed groups. Earlier, the US embassy warned that "Iraqi terrorist militia groups aligned with Iran may intend to conduct attacks in central Baghdad in the next 24-48 hours".
- US Baghdad centre hit: A drone attack targeted the US diplomatic and logistics centre in Baghdad's international airport complex, causing a fire but no injuries, two Iraqi security sources told AFP.
- 'Immediate' reopening: About 40 countries called for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Britain's foreign minister said. "Iran is trying to hold the global economy hostage in the Strait of Hormuz. They must not prevail," Yvette Cooper said in a statement after international talks.
- Force in Hormuz: The secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council called for the UN Security Council to authorise the use of force to protect the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian attacks. "We call upon the Security Council to assume its full responsibility and take all necessary measures to protect maritime routes and ensure the safe continuation of international navigation," said Jassem al-Budaiwi.
- China condemnation: China's foreign minister Wang Yi said US and Israeli attacks on Iran were a violation of international law, Chinese state media reported, as he held calls with his EU, German and Saudi counterparts. Wang also said the UN Security Council -- of which China is a permanent member -- "should prevent the escalation of conflict", state broadcaster CCTV said.
Live Updates
- 3 April 2026 11:03 PM IST
An explosion in southern Lebanon injures three UN peacekeepers amid fighting between Israel and Hezbollah
The peacekeeping mission known as UNIFIL reminded Israel, Hezbollah and other actors of their obligation to ensure the peacekeepers’ safety, including by avoiding combat near their facilities and positions.
“This has been a difficult week for peacekeepers working near the central part of UNIFIL’s area of operations,” UNIFIL said.
Three U.N. peacekeepers were injured, two seriously, in an explosion of unknown origin inside their position in El Adeisse on Friday afternoon, UNIFIL said. Three UNIFIL peacekeepers from Indonesia were killed earlier this week and others were injured. — AP
- 3 April 2026 11:02 PM IST
Iran accuses the UN nuclear watchdog of siding with its enemies
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran denounced on Friday what it describes as the U.N. nuclear agency’s “silence” as the US and Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The Iranian agency accused the International Atomic Energy Agency of “not merely inaction but complicity with perpetrators,” according to a statement posted on X. It said it has sent a protest letter to the IAEA’s director. “This historic negligence erodes the IAEA’s little remaining credibility,” read the statement.
The Iranian government has constantly said that it needs to expand its nuclear plants to meet its electricity needs rather than to build weapons. — AP
- 3 April 2026 10:59 PM IST
Meloni heads to Gulf to shore up energy security
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has become the first EU, G20 and NATO leader to visit the Gulf states since the start of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, arriving in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
Meloni has meetings planned with representatives of Saudi Arabia, starting with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, as well as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The mission is aimed at bolstering energy security and reaffirming Italy’s support in the face of Iranian attacks. — AP
- 3 April 2026 10:52 PM IST
Explosion in Southern Lebanon Injures Three UN Peacekeepers During Israel-Hezbollah Fighting
The peacekeeping mission known as UNIFIL reminded Israel, Hezbollah and other actors of their obligation to ensure the peacekeepers’ safety, including by avoiding combat near their facilities and positions.
“This has been a difficult week for peacekeepers working near the central part of UNIFIL’s area of operations,” UNIFIL said. - 3 April 2026 10:50 PM IST
One Crew Member Rescued After American Jet Goes Down in Iran
One crew member has been rescued after an American aircraft went down in Iran, according to one U.S. and one Israeli official, who both spoke on condition of anonymity to describe sensitive ongoing military operations.
- 3 April 2026 10:17 PM IST
US Launches Rescue Operation After American Jet Downed in Iran
The U.S. military rescue operation launched Friday after Iranian state media said an American fighter jet went down over southwest Iran and at least one crew member ejected.
Israel is helping the United States with the search and rescue operation, according to an Israeli military officer briefed on the information who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of a U.S. announcement.Social media footage showed American drones, aircraft and helicopters flying over the mountainous region where the Iranian channel said at least one pilot bailed out of the fighter jet. - 3 April 2026 8:38 PM IST
Israel launches ‘wide-scale’ strikes in Tehran
The Israeli military said it had launched a wave of strikes in Tehran on Friday, alongside parallel attacks in Beirut.
"In addition to the strikes in Beirut, the IDF has begun a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian regime in Tehran," the military said. - 3 April 2026 8:26 PM IST
Donald Trump’s wartime presidency puts Republicans at risk in upcoming elections
A year and a half after winning the White House by promising to lower costs and end wars, Donald Trump is a wartime president overseeing surging energy costs and an escalating overseas conflict that many in his own party do not like. And he offered little clarity to a nation eager for answers this week during his prime-time address.
It’s hard to overstate how dramatically the U.S. political landscape has shifted. At this time last year, many Republican leaders believed there was a path to preserve their narrow House majority and easily hold the Senate. Now they privately concede that the House is all but lost and Democrats have a realistic shot at taking the Senate. - 3 April 2026 8:26 PM IST
Tehran resident says the fate of Iranians hangs between two powers that don’t care for the people
The 26-year-old Tehran resident fears an escalation in the war that targets infrastructure could leave civilians without power or water, but said the survival of the Islamic Republic’s theocratic rulers leaves her “more anxious than the bombing.” She spoke on condition of anonymity and through secure channels for security reasons.
“Based on what Trump has been saying, once again I realized that we, the people of Iran are nothing but tools and playthings between these two ideologies and powers of the world,” she said. “Neither our lives nor our well-being matters to anyone. Not to our rulers, who killed (thousands during the January protests) nor to the First World, which has always pursued its own interests.”
The young Pilates instructor has stopped her teaching, she said, because “My body doesn’t want to.” She said the mood in Tehran “is dark” as parts of the city feel empty during the new year holidays, which end Friday. “It is full of checkpoints and there is very little traffic.” — AP
- 3 April 2026 7:48 PM IST
Israel resumes operatons at gas field shut after Iran war began
JERUSALEM, April 3, 2026 (AFP) - Israel has resumed operations at a major natural gas field that had been shut down since the onset of its war with Iran, a move that had halted exports to neighbouring Egypt and Jordan.
At the outbreak of hostilities on February 28, Israel ordered the suspension of activity at two offshore gas fields -- Leviathan and Karish facilities.
Israel's ministry of energy and infrastructure has now announced that production at the Leviathan field has been restored.
"Following situation assessments and examination of all relevant considerations, it was decided at this stage to return the Leviathan rig to operation," a ministry statement said.
The field had been closed over fears that a strike on a pressurised, operational installation could have catastrophic consequences.
Since the war began, Iran has targeted several of Israel's industrial sites, including the oil refinery complex in Haifa. — AFP
