US F-15 Fighter Downed Over Iran; Trump Warns of ‘Massive Hit’

TEHRAN/WASHINGTON: The five-week-long conflict between the United States and Iran reached a dangerous new boiling point in the last eight hours after an American F-15E Strike Eagle was downed over southwestern Iranian territory. The incident occurred during a high-stakes aerial skirmish near the city of Ahvaz, a region that has seen heavy fighting since the joint US-Israeli offensive began on February 28. While Iranian state media claimed the aircraft was neutralized by their indigenous “Khordad-15” air defense system, the Pentagon has characterized the event as a “hostile engagement in contested airspace.”

A dramatic combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) operation was launched immediately following the crash. US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that one crew member was successfully rescued by a Special Operations team in a daring midnight extraction. However, the fate of the second crew member—the Weapon Systems Officer—remains unknown. Iranian paramilitary groups have circulated unverified images of aircraft debris on Telegram, claiming they have captured the second pilot, though no official confirmation has been provided by Tehran.

US President Donald Trump took to social media shortly after the rescue, issuing a stark ultimatum to the Iranian leadership. “The biggest bridge in Iran came down yesterday, and now our Brave Pilot is missing,” Trump posted, referencing the destruction of the B1 Bridge in Karaj. He warned of a “massive and irreversible hit” to Iranian strategic assets if the missing crew member is not returned safely and unharmed.

The downing of a sophisticated multi-role fighter like the F-15E marks a shift in the conflict’s dynamics, suggesting that Iran’s air defenses remain a formidable threat despite weeks of heavy bombardment. International oil prices surged by 4% within an hour of the news, as markets fear a total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. In New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs expressed “grave concern” over the escalation, urging both sides to seek an immediate ceasefire to prevent a total regional collapse that could endanger millions of Indian expatriates living in the neighboring Gulf states.