Iran and the United States They are in a race against time to locate the second pilot of the first American plane shot down on Iranian territory since the start of the war. One of the two crew members has already been rescued successfully by US special forces after ejecting in southwestern Iran.
The downed plane was a F-15E fighter-bomberaccording to the Iranian army. American media confirm that one of the pilots was evacuated, while the fate of the second remains unknownwhich makes his rescue a priority for both sides. On the one hand, the American side is trying to rescue its compatriot, while the Iranian side could capture him as a prisoner of war, with the consequent danger to his safety, or even losing his life.
Five weeks after the start of war started by the United States and Israel on February 28 against the Islamic Republic, which has left thousands dead mainly in Iran and Lebanon, this incident represents a severe setback for US aviation. Since the start of the war, no American soldiers have been killed or captured on Iranian soil, although 13 have died in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
Capture of a video released by the Tasnim Agency, close to the Revolutionary Guard, which shows what the media identifies as remains of the American F-15E fighter shot down in southern Iran. / Tasnim Agency / EFE
In a brief telephone interview with NBC, Trump assured that this fact does not “in any way” alter the possibility of negotiating with Tehran to end a conflict that is affecting the world economy.
Iran offers a reward to find him
He F-15E was shot down by a US anti-aircraft defense system. Guardians of the RevolutionIran’s ideological army, according to a military spokesman. “Further searches are underway,” he added.
Media such as the ‘New York Times’ and the ‘Washington Post’ confirmed photos and videos on social networks and Iranian media that show US helicopters and planes flying at low altitude over the area of the incident. Iranian state television in the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad region (southwest) broadcast images that, according to them, show the wreckage of the plane and promised “a generous reward” to whoever delivers the remaining pilot.
Houston Cantwell, former US Air Force pilot, explained to the AFP agency that during operations like the current ones, the special forces maintain a permanent state of alert to rescue downed pilots in enemy territory. “It gives enormous peace of mind to know that they will do everything possible to rescue you,” he said, although he clarified: “at the same time, they will not embark on a suicide mission.”
For a pilot in this situation, The priority is to “hide” and find the best possible place to wait for rescuelike a clearing or the roof of a building.
Intensification of attacks and reprisals
At the same time, Iran continues to launch missiles and drones against Israel and US-allied Gulf countrieslike reprisal for the attacks on its territory and in response to Trump’s threats to destroy Iranian infrastructure.
Besides, Iran claims to have hit another US plane, an A-10 Thunderbolt II, which subsequently crashed in the Persian Gulf.
Israel, for its part, again bombed on Saturday the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, considered a stronghold of the pro-Iran group Hezbollah.
On the same day, in Tel Aviv, one person was slightly injured by glass fragments following an Iranian missile alert, while in Bahrain, falling debris from intercepted drones caused four minor injuries and material damage.
Trump has threatened to attack Iranian civilian infrastructure, such as power plants, although this could expose the United States to accusations of war crimes.
During a press visit organized by the Iranian authorities, AFP found that a large suspension bridge under construction in Karaj, on the western outskirts of Tehran, was destroyed by a bombardment on Thursday. “We worked on this bridge for two years, day and night, with all our hearts,” said Hamed Zekri, project engineer. “Our efforts were destroyed in three hours, but, God willing, we will rebuild it.”
According to the Martyrs Foundation of Alborz province, cited by the Irna agency, the bombing left 13 civilians dead and dozens injured.
Trump, on his Truth social network, boasted: “Iran’s largest bridge collapses and will never be used,” without explaining the reason for the attack. For his part, Abbas Araghchi, head of Iranian diplomacy, responded in X: “Attacking civilian infrastructure, including unfinished bridges, will not make Iranians surrender.”
The Iranian Fars agency published a list of “important bridges in the region that could be targets of Iranian retaliation.”
