An American F-15 fighter jet was shot down over Iran, and search and rescue operations are underway.

LootboxPhobia · 2026-04-03T17:15:24+00:00

An American F-15 fighter jet was shot down in central Iran, marking the first U.S. aircraft destroyed by enemy fire since the conflict began. The U.S. military is conducting a rescue operation. Following the incident, Trump called for a fierce strike on Iran, and the escalation of the war led to a surge in medical demand. WTI crude oil futures prices rose above $110 per barrel.

LootboxPhobia

2026-04-03 17:15:24

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Investing.com - According to Iranian state media and U.S. sources, an American F-15 fighter jet was shot down over central Iran. This is the first U.S. aircraft brought down by enemy fire since the conflict began five weeks ago. The U.S. military is conducting a search and rescue operation for two crew members.

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A U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly confirmed the incident to Axios, saying the search and rescue operation is ongoing. Iranian state media published what it claimed were photos and videos showing parts of the downed aircraft and one of its ejection seats. The images indicate that the aircraft was an F-15E “Strike Eagle” fighter.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps initially claimed it shot down an F-35 with a new air defense system, but the wreckage at the crash site appears to belong to an F-15E “Strike Eagle” fighter, not an F-35. The incident occurred just one day after the U.S. Central Command denied Iran’s claim that it had shot down an “enemy” aircraft, stating that “all U.S. fighter jets have been confirmed safe.”

The shootdown happened after a speech by President Trump on April 1, in which he vowed to “launch an extremely severe strike” against Iran “within the next two to three weeks,” and send them “back to the Stone Age they belong in.” The statement was issued amid conflicting reports about ceasefire talks. Trump claimed that the Iranian president requested a ceasefire, while Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the claim was “false and without basis.”

A joint U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran began about five weeks ago. Since the conflict started, thousands of people have been killed and tens of thousands injured. According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, medical needs are growing exponentially.

On Thursday, as the war escalated, WTI crude oil futures surged to above $110 per barrel. Due to Good Friday and the Easter holiday, there is no oil trading today.

This article was translated with the assistance of artificial intelligence. For more information, please see our Terms of Use.

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