U.S. fighter jets downed over Iran as Israel assists in high-stakes rescue operation

US 04-04-2026 | 21:28

U.S. fighter jets downed over Iran as Israel assists in high-stakes rescue operation

Explosions rock Tehran while joint U.S.-Israeli efforts continue to search for a missing pilot after Iranian missile strike.

Annahar

U.S. fighter jets downed over Iran as Israel assists in high-stakes rescue operation

U.S. fighter jet (X)

The Wall Street Journal reported, citing an Israeli official on Saturday, that “Israel continues to assist the United States in tracking down the missing pilot after Iran shot down two American fighter jets over its territory on Friday.”

The official added that “Israel has halted its air raids at the site of the plane shootdown to facilitate search and rescue operations,” noting that “one member of the American crew has been rescued, while the search for the other is still ongoing.”

Israel on the rescue line

Israeli Channel 13, citing Israeli Air Force officials, confirmed that “the pilot of the second warplane, an A-10 Thunderbolt, was rescued after parachuting from Iranian airspace.”

The channel explained that “the Israeli Air Force provided direct support to U.S. efforts, including air superiority and intelligence, as well as deploying Hercules and Black Hawk aircraft.”

Channel 13 reported, quoting sources, that “a mobile Iranian surface-to-air missile system shot down the American fighter jet yesterday.”

A senior officer in the Israeli Air Force noted that “the joint air force operations room oversaw the rescue operation, attended by Air Force Commander Major General Tomer Bar and senior American pilots."

On Friday, Iran shot down a U.S. F-15E and struck an A-10 Thunderbolt using a mobile surface-to-air missile system, resulting in the loss of one American crew member, while the other was immediately rescued.

The war in Iran continues today, as the capital, Tehran, has witnessed explosions in the north and east of the city over the past few hours, amid intense fighter jet flyovers.