According to American media, two of the three pilots have been located and brought to safety
Published 3 Apr, 2026 16:48
| Updated 3 Apr, 2026 22:54
© IRIB/social media
Welcome to RT’s live coverage of the US-Israeli war against Iran, which has spread across multiple countries in the Middle East, with missile and drone barrages launched by both sides.
Iran shot down a US fighter jet over its territory on Friday, prompting a rescue operation for the crew, according to US and Iranian media.
According to multiple outlets citing US officials, one of the two crew members of the twin-seat F-15E Strike Eagle has been rescued, while the whereabouts and status of the second remain unknown. Although Iran claimed it had downed a newer F-35 aircraft, analysts say that images of the wreckage, including an ejection seat, are consistent with an F-15.
A second US military aircraft, a single-seat A-10 Thunderbolt II, managed to leave Iranian airspace before its pilot ejected and was rescued, US media reported.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to step up strikes on Iran, saying Iranian power plants could be targeted next. The announcement came just hours after US forces hit the country’s tallest highway bridge linking Tehran and Karaj, rendering it inoperable.
“Our Military… hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants! New Regime leadership knows what has to be done, and has to be done fast!”
Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari responded, warning of immediate retaliation if Washington follows through.
“If the US proceeds with its threats regarding Iran’s power plants, immediate retaliatory actions will be taken,” he said in a video address, adding that Israeli energy and IT infrastructure – as well as regional companies with American shareholders – would face ”complete and utter annihilation.”
The video featured footage of the Stargate UAE project, a major AI infrastructure hub under construction in Abu Dhabi, part of a US-backed initiative led by OpenAI. Zolfaghari said Iran would ”do whatever it takes” to defend its interests, suggesting these projects could become targets.
USAF HC-130J and HH-60G Pave Hawks on a deep combat search and rescue for the downed F-15 Strike Eagle crew in Iran. pic.twitter.com/vhCqUupLuz
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) April 3, 2026
Earlier, Iran said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed ”in the long term” to US and Israeli ships. Trump urged Tehran to ”make a deal before it is too late.” Iranian officials have denied they are seeking a ceasefire or engaging in talks.
Latest developments:
• Trump said he hopes that the pilot of a downed US aircraft will not be captured or harmed by Iranian forces.
• Israel reportedly canceled some planned strikes on Iran to avoid interfering with the ongoing rescue operation.
• An Iranian drone struck Kuwait’s Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery, while the debris from an intercepted UAV set fire to the UAE’s largest gas processing hub, Habshan, authorities in the Gulf state have reported.
• Iran has refused a 48-hour ceasefire offer from the US, delivered via a third country, according to Fars news agency. Indirect attempts to secure an armistice have “reached a dead end,” according to the WSJ.
• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said strikes on civilian infrastructure, including bridges, would not force Iran to surrender, calling them a sign of “defeat and moral collapse.”
Follow our live coverage below for continuous updates. You can also read our previous updates here.
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03 April 2026
22:47 GMT
The helicopter carrying the rescued personnel was hit by small arms fire, wounding those on board, CBS News reported, citing two US officials familiar with the matter. The helicopter landed safely, and its crew will be transported to a medical facility, the outlet added.
- 22:23 GMT
Asked during a brief phone call with The Independent what he would do if the missing pilot were captured or harmed by Iranians, US President Donald Trump said: “Well, I can’t comment on it because we hope that’s not going to happen.”
- 21:44 GMT
An image posted on social media appears to show an ejection seat from a downed US fighter jet, which US media and open-source analysts say is consistent with an F-15E Strike Eagle.
A McDonnell-Douglas ACES II (Advanced Concept Ejection Seat) from a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle has been found by residents in Southern Iran, the whereabouts or status of the pilot and weapons officer is currently unknown, with unconfirmed reports that one or both of the… pic.twitter.com/V0KMonfQiv
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 3, 2026
- 21:29 GMT
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Kamal Khazzari, head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Policy, had been targeted in an assassination attempt and that his wife had been killed.
“Let the world judge: which side engages in dialogue and negotiation, and which in terrorism?” Pezeshkian wrote on X.
Iranian media reported that Khazzari was wounded in an attack on his home on Wednesday.
Just as I was addressing the American people, the head of our Strategic Council on Foreign Policy was targeted in an assassination attempt, leading to the martyrdom of his innocent wife. Let the world judge; which side engages in dialogue and negotiation, and which in terrorism?
— Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) April 3, 2026
- 20:58 GMT
Iran has refused a 48-hour ceasefire offer from the US, the Fars news agency has reported, citing an anonymous source.
The offer came on Wednesday via a third country, it said, adding that rather that replying in writing, the Islamic Republic responded with continued attacks.
The Wall Street Journal has reported that efforts to secure a US-Iranian ceasefire via regional countries, including Pakistan, have “reached a dead end.” Tehran has declared that it would not send negotiators to Islamabad for talks with Washington’s diplomats in the coming days, and that it considers US demands unacceptable, the WSJ said.
- 20:50 GMT
Trump has posted a short message on Truth Social, simply asking: “KEEP THE OIL, ANYONE?”
Earlier, he claimed the US could “easily” reopen the Strait of Hormuz, “take the oil and make a fortune.”
pic.twitter.com/Rvedh3H8bX
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 3, 2026
- 20:35 GMT
One person has died as a result of drone debris falling at the UAE’s largest gas processing hub, while four people sustained injuries, the Abu Dhabi Media Office has said in a statement.
Parts of a drone fell at the Habshan gas facilities following an air defense interception, setting two fires and causing “significant damage,” it said.
Operations at the sprawling complex have been suspended in the meantime, the media office said in an earlier statement.
As part of the ongoing follow up to the previously reported incident at Habshan gas facilities, caused by falling debris following the successful interception by air defence systems, authorities confirm that two fires broke out and emergency response teams acted swiftly to bring…
— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) April 3, 2026
- 20:24 GMT
When asked by NBC News if the downing of the US jet would affect potential negotiations with Iran, Trump replied: “No, not at all.”
“No, it’s war. We’re in war,” he told NBC in a brief phone interview.
- 20:13 GMT
Unverified footage shows Iranians shooting at two US helicopters searching for the downed F-15E crew.
According to CBS, Iranian small arms fire hit at least one of the helicopters, wounding crew members aboard.
Footage of Iranian police firing small arms at a pair of USAF HH-60Ws searching for the downed F-15E crew earlier today. pic.twitter.com/9SwhyhY1Aw
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) April 3, 2026
- 19:59 GMT
A vessel is burning in the Persian Gulf off the Strait of Hormuz, according to unverified footage circulating online.
An unconfirmed report claims the ship is a fishing vessel.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations Center, which monitors activity in the area, has reported no incidents in the past 24 hours.
Exclusive from @citrini x @hntrbrkmedia: A fishing vessel is ablaze in the Persian Gulf just off the Strait of Hormuz. pic.twitter.com/PpLiPqILC5
— Hunterbrook (@hntrbrkmedia) April 3, 2026
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03 April 2026
16:50 GMT
Unverified footage from Iran purports to show a US HC-130J plane with two helicopters conducting search operations for downed American pilots.
USAF HC-130 refueling a pair of HH-60G Pavehawks over Iran while searching for the downed F-15E aircrew today. pic.twitter.com/V5Xgs5Ew5t
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) April 3, 2026
- 16:57 GMT
One crew member from the downed F-15E jet has been rescued, CBS News has reported, citing two US officials.
The jet has a crew of two. Search and rescue operations are reportedly continuing.
- 17:01 GMT
Iran has claimed to have downed another US F-35 latest generation fighter jet.
Part of the alleged wreckage posted by Iranian state broadcaster IRIB sports markings that match those used by the US Air Forces in Europe.
- 17:23 GMT
The Israeli military has detected a new launch of missiles from Iran, the IDF has said in a statement.
The IRGC has claimed that it had struck an Israeli troop concentration and combat support centers in Western Galilee, Haifa, and other areas of Israel.
- 17:35 GMT
Unconfirmed footage on social media purports to show smoke and fire coming from Kuwait’s Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery.
#BREAKING: Drones strike Kuwait’s Mina Al-Ahmadi oil refinery.At least two drones hit operational units at the key refinery, triggering fires visible from the site. Emergency teams are battling the blaze. No injuries reported so far.The strike raises fresh concerns about the… pic.twitter.com/sQAIEnFrCc
— SilentFrame (@SilentFrameM) April 3, 2026
- 17:45 GMT
The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation said that no staff were injured in the Iranian drone strikes on its Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery.
No adverse impact on air quality due to the resulting fires has been detected, it added.
KPC Press Release on this morning's malicious attack on Mina Al-Ahmadi Refinery. pic.twitter.com/PUtETo1NVf
— KPC | مؤسسة البترول الكويتية (@kpcofficialkw) April 3, 2026
- 17:59 GMT
Iranians living in a southwestern Iranian province have organized search parties for the downed US jet crew, according to footage shared by the Tasnim news agency.
- 18:12 GMT
Israeli broadcasters have released footage of interceptions of Iranian missiles over northern Israel.
- 18:25 GMT
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has mocked the reported downing of the US fighter jet in Iran.
”After defeating Iran 37 times in a row, this brilliant no-strategy war they started has now been downgraded from ‘regime change’ to ‘Hey! Can anyone find our pilots? Please?🥺,’” he wrote on X. “What incredible progress.”
After defeating Iran 37 times in a row, this brilliant no-strategy war they started has now been downgraded from “regime change” to “Hey! Can anyone find our pilots? Please?🥺”Wow. What incredible progress. Absolute geniuses.
— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) April 3, 2026
- 18:40 GMT
Three members of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have been injured in the south of the country, a UN spokesman has said.
Two of the peacekeepers were seriously wounded, and all have been evacuated to a hospital, UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel has said. “We do not yet know the origin of the explosion.”
At least three Indonesian UNIFIL peacekeepers have been killed in southern Lebanon in the past week, following Israeli strikes. Jakarta has called for an inquiry.
“We demand a direct investigation from the UN, not just Israel’s excuses,” Indonesia’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Umar Hadi, has said.
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