IRGC Shoots Down U.S. F-15 Over Iran; One Pilot Rescued, Second Missing
Key Takeaways
- IRGC shot down a U.S. fighter jet over Iran.
- One pilot rescued; the other missing.
- Some outlets claim two jets were downed; most report one jet with one missing.
US F-15 Shot Down Over Iran
Iran's IRGC shot down a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle over southwestern Iran.
One pilot was rescued alive by U.S. forces; the second remains missing.
Iranian state media announced a $60,000 reward for capturing American pilots.
Civilians were urged to assist security forces in locating the crew.
Pilot Rescue and Search Operations
U.S. forces conducted a high-risk rescue mission to recover the surviving pilot.
Search and rescue operations were ongoing for the second crew member.
Videos showed residents moving toward the crash site.
Contradictory Iranian Claims
The IRGC claimed to have shot down both an F-15E and an A-10; the Pentagon confirmed only the F-15E.
“ANI |Updated:Apr 04, 2026 04:00IST Tehran [Iran], April 4 (ANI): The Iranian military has asserted that its forces successfully targeted and downed a US A-10 aircraft, according to a report by Al Jazeera”
The incident occurred near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The Guardian described it as a turning point and public humiliation for Trump.
Polling and Public Opinion
Only 27% of Americans approved the strikes while 43% disapproved.
The Pentagon confirmed six US service members killed earlier in the campaign.
Iranian civilian casualties exceeded 1,300 by the start of the seventh week.
More on Iran
Iran Struggles Under US-Israeli Bombing: Over 21,000 Killed, Widespread Destruction
17 sources compared
Iran Fires Over 60 Missiles at Israel; Two US Warplanes Downed
20 sources compared
Iran Fires Down US F-15 and A-10; Two Black Hawks Hit During Rescue
17 sources compared
US Intelligence Finds Half of Iran's Missile Launchers Intact After Five Weeks
15 sources compared