Iranian forces are searching for a missing US pilot after one of two American warplanes was downed over Iran and the Gulf, raising tensions as the conflict enters its sixth week with little indication of peace talks. Officials from both countries confirmed that an F-15E fighter jet was brought down by Iranian fire, while a pilot from an A-10 Warthog aircraft ejected safely after a separate crash in Kuwait.
Two US Black Hawk helicopters dispatched to locate the missing pilot were struck by Iranian fire but managed to exit Iranian airspace. The extent of injuries to the crews remains unclear. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said it was combing southwestern areas near the F-15E crash site. The local governor promised a reward for anyone who captured or killed “forces of the hostile enemy.”
The downing of the jets follows weeks of intensive airstrikes from both sides. Iranian state media reported attacks on a petrochemical zone in the country’s southwest, leaving five people injured. Another strike hit an auxiliary building near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant, killing one person, though operations at the facility were reportedly unaffected. Iran also targeted warehouses storing bottled water in western regions, adding to mounting civilian concerns.
The conflict, which began with strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has already claimed the lives of at least 13 US military personnel and left more than 300 wounded, according to US Central Command. Iran has continued to launch drones and missiles against Israel and Gulf allies of the United States, while Israel has carried out strikes on Iran-backed Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut following attacks on its territory.
The crisis has intensified global economic pressure. Oil markets reacted sharply, with US crude benchmark prices jumping 11% on Thursday. Countries including Germany and Japan are seeking ways to manage the fallout, and five European Union finance ministers called for a tax on energy company windfall profits. Senegal announced a freeze on all non-essential foreign travel for ministers and top officials, citing rising oil prices and budget strains.
US President Donald Trump has continued to receive updates on the ongoing rescue operation, reiterating threats to target Iranian infrastructure. In recent statements, he warned of striking bridges and power plants, highlighting the vulnerability of Gulf states reliant on desalination plants for drinking water. Iranian celebrations followed the downing of US aircraft, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf noting that the conflict has shifted from regime change to hunting down pilots.
Diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire have so far failed. Iran declined to meet US officials in Islamabad in the coming days, leaving Pakistan-led mediation efforts stalled. With no immediate resolution in sight, both sides continue to engage in air and missile strikes, keeping regional security and global energy markets on high alert.
