While Israel and the United States launched joint strikes on Tehran in late February, a dramatic new development seems to be reshaping the West Asia battlefield now with Iran having shot down multiple US military aircraft, a rare and significant escalation that challenges Washington’s claims of overwhelming dominance.
In a major blow to US military operations, Iran shot down two American warplanes on Friday (April 3, 2026) – an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet and an A-10 Warthog attack aircraft. Several media reports now claim that the United States lost at least seven manned aircraft during the war, which started on February 28, after the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
The F-15E, a two-seat fighter, went down over Iranian territory. One crew member was rescued, while the search continues for the second. The A-10 aircraft was also hit, crashing after the pilot ejected safely. Notably, this is the first time in over two decades that a US fighter jet has been shot down in combat. The last such incident occurred in 2003 during the Iraq War.
How is the US responding to the downing of its aircraft?
US and Israeli forces have launched an urgent search-and-rescue operation for the missing F-15 crew member, with Iran simultaneously combing the crash area.
President Donald Trump has been briefed but has not publicly addressed the incident in detail. When asked about potential retaliation if the pilot is captured, Trump said, “Well, I can’t comment on it because — we hope that’s not going to happen.” Even as the crisis continues to unfold and worsen, Trump maintained that the incident would not impact negotiations, stating, “No, not at all. No, it’s war.”
As rescue efforts were ongoing, he took to his Truth Social account to advocate for seizing Iran’s natural resources once more, writing: “TAKE THE OIL, ANYONE?”
What does this reveal about Iran’s military capability?
The downing of advanced US aircraft underscores a key reality: Iran’s air defence systems, though degraded, are far from neutralised. Experts suggest that the F-15 may have been hit by a surface-to-air missile or a portable shoulder-fired system, which are harder to detect and increasingly used in modern warfare.
Behnam Ben Taleblu, Iran program senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a hawkish Washington think tank, told news agency AFP, “A disabled air defense system is not a destroyed air defense system. We shouldn’t be shocked that they’re still fighting.”
Mark Cancian, a retired Marine colonel and a senior defense adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, added that despite the setback, the US air campaign remains largely effective, calling it a “tremendous success” overall.
Are more US assets under threat in the region?
Yes, and the risks are expanding. Iran has reportedly damaged a US CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Kuwait, targeted American military bases across the Gulf, and further increased drone and missile strikes in the region. Two US Black Hawk helicopters involved in rescue efforts were also hit but managed to escape.
Iranian state media has even urged civilians to capture the missing US pilot, offering rewards. An Iranian television reporter on a local official channel said anyone who captured the US pilot alive would “receive a valuable reward”.
The incident comes over five weeks into a war that began on February 28, when US and Israeli forces launched large-scale strikes on Iran. Despite Trump’s repeated claims that Iran has been “completely decimated”, Tehran’s ability to shoot down advanced aircraft, along with targetting US assets suggests the conflict is far from over.
Iran’s leadership has framed the war as one of survival, with analysts noting that such resilience is typical of a state “fighting for its life.”
Meanwhile, with over 13,000 US missions flown and 12,300 targets struck, the war remains intense.