Wreckage of American planes blown up by US special forces during raid to rescue second missing F15 pilot is revealed 


The wreckage of American planes blown up by US special forces during a raid to rescue a second missing pilot has been revealed. 

President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday that a second crew member of an F-15 fighter jet, which was downed over a remote area of Iran, had been recovered in ‘one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in US History’.

The announcement came as Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel and Kuwait early Sunday, and a day after Trump said the Islamic Republic had 48 hours to cut a deal or face ‘all Hell’.

‘This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies,’ Trump said on Truth Social. ‘He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine.

It comes after Trump took to Truth Social on Saturday, stating: ‘Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT,’ referring to an ultimatum issued on March 26.

‘Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign (sic) down on them.’

Iran’s central military command rejected the ultimatum, with General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi saying Trump’s threat was a ‘helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid action’.

Echoing Trump’s language, he warned that ‘the gates of hell will open for you’. 

WATCH: Second US airman extracted in ‘miraculous’ rescue mission

Iran releases images reportedly of downed US aircraft

A US service member who has been missing since Iran shot down a fighter jet has been rescued, President Donald Trump wrote in a social media post early Sunday.

A frantic US search-and-rescue operation unfolded after the crash of the F-15E Strike Eaglejet on Friday, as Iran also promised a reward for anyone who turned in the ‘enemy pilot.’

A second crew member was rescued earlier.

Trump wrote that the aviator is injured but ‘will be just fine,’ adding that he took refuge ‘in the treacherous mountains of Iran.’

Trump added that the rescue involved “dozens of aircraft” and that the US had been monitoring his location ’24 hours a day, and diligently planning for his rescue.’

Wreckage of American planes blown up by US special forces during raid to rescue second missing F15 pilot is revealed 
Iran releases pics reportedly of downed search and rescue aircrafthttps://x.com/IRANinKabul/status/2040689680094773682/photo/1
Iran releases pics reportedly of downed search and rescue aircrafthttps://x.com/IRANinKabul/status/2040689680094773682/photo/1
epa12870172 A handout picture provided by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) official website (Sepah News) on 05 April 2026, reportedly shows the wreckage and remains of a downed US aircraft in central Iran. Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said a US aircraft that had been searching for the crew member of a missing US fighter jet had been destroyed, Iranian media reported on 05 April 2026.  EPA/SEPAH NEWS HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

READ MORE: US special forces rescue second missing F15 airman from Iran in ‘one of the most daring operations in history’, says Trump

US special forces had to destroy two of their own planes as they completed an audacious rescue of an airman trapped behind enemy lines.

The airman, alongside a pilot, had been in an F-15 fighter jet which was shot down over a remote area of Iran on Friday.

The pilot had safely ejected and was rescued by two military helicopters the same day, but the second crew member had remained missing.

Israel issues new threat on Beirut’s southern suburbs

The Israeli military has directed residents from a neighbourhood in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, to leave their homes in advance of an attack.

‘To everyone present in the building marked in red as shown on the map and the adjacent buildings: You are located near a facility affiliated with Hezbollah’, Arabic language spokesman Avichay Adraee said, without providing evidence.

In a post on X, Adraee shared a map of the Ghobeiry neighbourhood, with a building highlighted in red.

WHO chief raises concerns over US-Israeli attacks on nuclear sites in Iran

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisation, has raised the alarm over the safety of nuclear facilities in Iran following US-Israeli strikes close to the Bushehr nuclear power plant.

The attack ‘is a stark reminder: a strike could trigger a nuclear accident, with health impacts that would devastate generations.

‘With every passing day of this escalating conflict, the stakes and threats are raised higher and higher’, Tedros said on X.

China condemns US strikes on Iran’s civilian infrastructure

Yu Jing, spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in India, shared the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ message stating that the US-Israeli military operations against Iran violate international law.

Responding to a query, over China’s stance after US President Donald Trump claimed that the US air strikes destroyed an Iranian civilian bridge to pressure Iran into negotiations, the Chinese MFA said: ‘The US-Israeli military operations against Iran have no authorisation of the UN Security Council and violate international law.

‘China opposes attacks against civilian facilities. Relevant parties should stop the military actions at once, return to the track of political and diplomatic settlement, and avoid an even worse humanitarian disaster.’

Iran strikes hit energy infrastructure across Gulf states

Critical infrastructure across the Gulf came under attack from Iran on Sunday, with damage reported at civilian facilities in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

Authorities in Abu Dhabi said on Sunday they were battling fires at a petrochemical plant in Ruwais Industrial City on the UAE’s northwest coast.

‘Authorities are responding to multiple fires in the Borouge petrochemicals plant, caused by falling debris following successful interceptions by air defence systems,’ the Gulf emirate’s media office said.

‘Operations at the facility have been immediately suspended while damage is assessed. No injuries have been reported,’ it added after the United Arab Emirates’ defence ministry earlier said it was responding to missile and drone attacks.

Iran’s army earlier said it was targeting ‘aluminium industries’ in the UAE and US military infrastructure in Kuwait, the official IRNA news agency reported on Saturday.

The Islamic Republic has repeatedly threatened civilian infrastructure in the Gulf countries, as US-Israeli attacks in Iran have also hit targets that are key to the Islamic Republic’s economy.

Iran internet blackout now world’s longest nationwide shutdown, says NetBlocks

Iran’s internet blackout, first imposed well over a month ago, is now the longest nationwide shutdown on record, according to NetBlocks, a monitoring group.

‘Iran’s internet blackout is now the longest nation-scale internet shutdown on record in any country, exceeding all other comparable incidents in severity having entered its 37th consecutive day after 864 hours,’ NetBlocks said in a post on X.

Israelis ‘filled with joy’ after US service member rescue, finance minister says

Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich took to Telegram this morning to say: ‘The heart of every Jew and every Israeli is filled this morning with joy over the safe rescue of the two American aircrew members in a heroic operation on Iranian soil.

‘The bravery, courage, professionalism, and commitment to bringing every soldier home are yet another example of the shared values of the United States and the State of Israel – from Entebbe to Isfahan,’ he added, referencing a 1976 Israeli rescue mission at Entebbe Airport in Uganda.

Iran shares photo of downed US aircraft in Isfahan

Iranian drones attack Bahrain petrochemical plant

Bahrain’s official news agency said on Sunday the attack ignited fires in two units at the state-run petrochemical plant.

According to the Bahrain News Agency, which cited the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company, firefighters have brought the fire under control, and authorities are assessing the damage.

Iran says 10 killed and seven injured from strikes in country’s southwest

Nournews, a media outlet believed to have close links with Iranian security forces, reported on Sunday that the strikes occurred in Dehdasht county and the Vezq district, around 360 miles south of Tehran.

Nournews didn’t specify if those killed included military personnel, but said two were tourists.

Media reports had said on Friday that a US pilot who went missing after his aircraft was shot down may have been in the same areas where the strikes happened.

Nournews didn’t say if the deaths were linked to a rescue operation for the US pilot.