President Donald Trump announced early Sunday that a U.S. service member, missing since Iran shot down an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet, has been rescued.
The rescue capped a high-stakes U.S. search-and-rescue mission launched after Friday’s crash deep in Iran’s mountainous terrain. Iran had offered a reward for capturing the “enemy pilot.” A second crew member from the jet was saved earlier.
“This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines… being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer by the hour,” Trump posted on social media. He noted the pilot is injured but “will be just fine,” crediting the operation’s success to “dozens of aircraft” and round-the-clock monitoring.
This marks the first U.S. aircraft downed in Iranian territory since the war erupted on February 28. Trump had boasted last week of “decimating” Iran and ending the conflict “very fast,” but Iran downed two U.S. planes days later—including an A-10 attack aircraft whose crew status remains unknown—highlighting risks in the ongoing campaign.
Iranian Drones Hammer Gulf Energy Targets
Iranian drones struck critical infrastructure across the Gulf:
- Kuwait: Two power plants damaged and a water desalination plant knocked offline, per the Ministry of Electricity. No injuries.
- Bahrain: Fire at a national oil company storage facility, now extinguished; damage assessment ongoing, no casualties.
- UAE: Fires at the Borouge petrochemical plant in Ruwais from intercepted drone debris halted production. The joint ADNOC-Borealis venture sits near the Saudi border.
The attacks followed Israel’s strike on an Iranian petrochemical facility, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said funded Tehran’s war machine.
The U.S.-Israel war has killed thousands, disrupted shipping, spiked fuel prices, and drawn war crimes warnings over civilian strikes.
Trump Issues Strait of Hormuz Ultimatum; Iran Retaliates with Threats
Trump reiterated demands for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz—a vital global energy chokepoint blocked by Tehran—by Monday, or face “all Hell.” He referenced his prior 10-day ultimatum, now down to 48 hours.
Iran’s Gen. Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi warned of “doors of hell” if U.S. infrastructure is targeted, threatening all American regional assets.
Pakistan’s mediation push gained traction, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi calling ceasefire talks “right on track.” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed willingness to visit Islamabad. Mediators from Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt aim for a hostilities pause to enable diplomacy, sources say.
Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf hinted at blocking the Bab el-Mandeb strait—through which 10% of global oil and 25% of container ships pass—questioning high-volume users.
Casualties Mount: Over 1,900 dead in Iran; 24+ in Gulf states/West Bank; 19 in Israel; 13 U.S. troops; 1,400+ in Lebanon (1M displaced); 10 Israeli soldiers there.