Iran Claims Downing US A-10 Near Strait of Hormuz; US Rescues F-15 Pilot

Referencing the army public relations team, the report stated that the "aircraft was targeted in waters south of and around the strategic waterway." Despite these specific assertions from the Iranian military, the "claim could not be independently verified" by external sources.

The aircraft in question is a specialised platform within the American fleet. Al Jazeera, citing technical specifications, noted that the "A-10 is a US ground-attack aircraft designed for close air support missions," which are intended for operations "particularly against armoured vehicles and ground forces."

In a separate development, American forces have successfully retrieved a crew member from a US F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet brought down over Iran, according to CNN. The rescued individual is reportedly alive, in US custody, and receiving medical treatment. However, the fate of the second crew member remains uncertain as "search and rescue operations were ongoing."

The downed F-15E, a dual-role aircraft typically operated by a two-person team, was reportedly targeted on Friday. CNN's analysis of images released by Iranian media verified that the wreckage matches an F-15, while The Wall Street Journal cited Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, which first reported the incident.

Furthering these claims, IRIB shared a map on X circling the specific region where the search for the two pilots has been conducted. While the exact crash site remains unconfirmed, CNN geolocated footage from Khuzestan Province showing low-flying aircraft in a formation typical of air-to-air refuelling operations.

This incident marks the first time a US aircraft has been downed over Iran during the current conflict. Photographs of debris, including a tail fin, appeared to identify the jet as belonging to the 494th Fighter Squadron based at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom.

Despite the evidence of the wreckage and the ongoing search, the US military and the White House have not yet officially commented on the status of the pilots or the circumstances of the crash.

- ANI