Race to save American pilot from behind enemy lines as Iran claims it downed two jets… and toll of US wounded in war hits 365
U.S. forces are racing against time to rescue a missing fighter jet pilot whose plane was shot down by Iranian air defenses in a chaotic day of combat after a second American plane was shot down.
Iranian state media shared footage on Friday showing a US A-10 Warthog aircraft taking off in the sky, and reports indicate that a second US aircraft, an F-15E Strike Eagle, was also shot down hours earlier.
Joint events caused the two pilots to eject into enemy territory, and the F-15E pilot remained unaccounted for after U.S. forces successfully rescued the A-10 pilot in a daring rescue mission.
US forces are now desperately searching behind enemy lines to rescue the missing pilot, and an emergency rescue operation is also underway.
Pentagon data updated on Friday evening revealed that the number of US soldiers injured in the Iran war increased to 365 soldiers.
In total there were 247 Army soldiers, 63 Navy sailors, 19 Marines and 36 Air Force airmen. The death toll in the conflict remained at 13 US soldiers.
Following news that two US planes were shot down on Friday, White House officials said President Donald Trump had been briefed on aid efforts.
A senior administration official told the Daily Mail that the President’s national security team meets at the White House and that the President works all day in the Oval Office or in the Oval dining room, receiving updates.
In a brief phone call, Trump refused to discuss details of the search and rescue operation and insisted it would not affect ongoing negotiations with Iran.
An A-10 Warthog fighter jet crashed near the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf on Friday, but the pilot was reportedly rescued. There is still no news from the pilot of the F-15E Strike Eagle plane that was shot down on Friday.
Iranian state media shared images showing the A-10 plane taking off immediately after the pilot was safely ejected from the plane.
When asked by NBC News correspondent Garrett Haake whether the plane incidents could end negotiations between Iran and the United States, the President replied: ‘No, definitely not. No, this is a war. We’re at war, Garrett.’
This marked the first time a US jet was shot down by enemy fire since the war began 35 days ago.
Meanwhile, Newsmax reported that a US Black Hawk conducting rescue operations for pilots was hit by enemy fire. The crew was reported to be in clear condition and safe.
According to the New York Times, an A-10 Warthog fighter jet crashed near the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf on Friday, but the pilot was rescued.
Later Friday, Iranian state media took credit for the plane crash, saying Iranian defense forces had shot down the A-10.
Iranian state media also called on civilians to capture the Strike Eagle pilots with a ‘reward’ offered by the Islamic regime.
Israeli media reported that the missing airmen likely sent the emergency location signal to the rescue team.
President Trump told a reporter that shooting down US planes would not affect ongoing negotiations with Iran, saying: ‘No, not at all. No, this is a war. ‘We are at war’
Videos circulating on social media show American jets flying low over Southern Iran for a search and rescue operation.
An Iranian state-run news agency on Friday published footage of a female anchor appealing to civilians to help the regime capture the pilots of the American F-15E Strike Eagle plane that was allegedly shot down.
A photo of the ejection seat emerged on Friday as the crew’s current whereabouts or condition are unknown
Footage has emerged of tribesmen firing at what appears to be an Air Force HC-130J Combat King II, a specialized search and rescue aircraft.
Separate videos purported to show a US KC-130 refueling tanker and two HH-60 Pave Hawk search and rescue helicopters.
Iranian media published images showing the wreckage and ejection seats of the crashed F-15E, which cost approximately $100 million.
A news anchor on Iranian state media called on local residents in southern Iran to find the ‘enemy pilot’ and hand him over to regime authorities.
According to the Associated Press, the local TV channel is headquartered in Kohkilouyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, a rural and mountainous region.
Viewers were also told “if you see them, shoot them,” in reference to US aircraft flying low in the area to search for crew members.
Footage emerged of Iranians opening fire on US rescue planes
Footage has emerged of tribal members firing at what appears to be an Air Force HC-130J Combat King II, a specialized search and rescue aircraft. Separate videos purported to show a US KC-130 refueling tanker and two HH-60 Pave Hawk search and rescue helicopters.
The regime has previously made a number of false claims that piloted US planes were shot down.
But on Friday, state media for the first time called on the public to look for suspicious American pilots.
If the regime successfully shoots down a warplane, this would mark a major escalation in the war.
In his address to the nation on Wednesday night, Trump vowed to end the conflict in the coming weeks.
As the war enters its 35th day, Iran has launched new attacks on energy facilities in the Gulf, attacking a desalination plant and oil refinery in Kuwait as well as a gas complex in Abu Dhabi.
The crashed plane is believed to be in Kohkilouyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, a densely rural and mountainous region (a US helicopter is investigating the area)
Wreckage of a US jet in a photo published by Iran’s state-owned Tasnim News Agency
Parts of the downed US jet seen in a photo published by Iran’s state-owned Tasnim News Agency
Smoke and flames rise from air strike on oil depot in Tehran
Multiple fires broke out at an oil refinery in Kuwait following a drone attack, according to officials.
Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that most of Iran’s steel production was destroyed after the US and Israel targeted the facilities.
In the new video he published today, Netanyahu said: ‘Together with our American friends, we continue to crush the terrorist regime in Iran. We eliminate commanders, we bomb bridges, we bomb infrastructure.
‘In recent days, the Air Force destroyed 70% of Iran’s steel production capacity. This is a monumental achievement that deprives the Revolutionary Guard of both financial resources and the ability to produce large quantities of weapons.
‘Between myself and President Trump, we will continue to crush Iran in full coordination between the Israel Defense Forces and the US Army. This regime is weaker than ever; Israel is stronger than ever.’
The Daily Mail has contacted the Pentagon for comment.
