US-Israel-Iran War Highlights: Pentagon email says US aircraft shot down in Middle East

Live updates to this blog have ended
Live updates to this blog have ended.
Middle East War: 1 dead after debris from intercepted attack hits gas site in Abu Dhabi
One Egyptian citizen was killed, and four people suffered minor injuries after debris from an intercepted attack fell on Abu Dhabi's Habshan gas facilities on Friday, Abu Dhabi's media office said.
The Egyptian was killed during the evacuation of the site, while four others â two Egyptians and two Pakistanis â sustained minor injuries, the media office said.
"Significant damage has occurred at the facilities and an assessment is ongoing," it added.
(Reuters)
US Israel Iran War: US military admits plane shot down in Middle East, says report citing email
According to an email from the Pentagon obtained by The Associated Press, the US military said that it received notification of "an aircraft being shot down" in the Middle East. The email did not provide more details.
(Associated Press)
US Israel Iran War: Trump briefed on reports about US jet downed in Iran, says report
US President Donald Trump has been briefed on news reports that a US F-15 fighter jet was downed over Iran, says Fox News.
Iran US Israel War: Iran's parliamentary Speaker mocks US over reported downing of jet
Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf mocks the US over the reported downing of an American jet over his country. "After defeating Iran 37 times in a row, this brilliant no-strategy war they started has now been downgraded from 'regime change' to 'Hey! Can anyone find our pilots? Please???' Wow. What incredible progress. Absolute geniuses."
West Asia Conflict: Israel striking 'terror infrastructure' in Beirut
The Israeli military said on Friday it has begun striking what it called "terror infrastructure" in the Lebanese capital Beirut.
Reuters reporters heard three loud blasts echoing across the city. Lebanese media outlets said the strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs, after Israel's military spokesperson issued a new warning for the entire zone earlier on Friday.
(Reuters)
Middle East News: Putin holds call with Turkey's Tayyip Erdogan to discuss Middle East
Russian President Vladimir Putin has held a phone call with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, the Kremlin said on Friday. Putin and Erdogan discussed the situation in the Middle East, the Kremlin added.
US Israel Iran War: US official confirms American jet shot down over Iran: Reuters
An unnamed US official has confirmed to news agency Reuters that an American fighter jet was indeed shot down over Iran and a search and rescue operation has been initiated for any survivors.
The official did not offer further details.
(With Reuters inputs)
Middle East Conflict: Kuwait intercepts fresh wave of missile and drone attacks
Kuwait's Army says the country's air defence system is dealing with a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks.
"The General Staff of the Army notes that if explosion sounds are heard, they are the result of the air defense systems intercepting the hostile attacks. Everyone is requested to adhere to the security and safety instructions issued by the competent authorities," it says in a post (in Arabic) on X.
Middle East War: UAE says it intercepted 18 ballistic missiles, 47 drones, 4 cruise missiles
The UAE Ministry of Defence said on Friday that its air forces engaged with 18 ballistic missiles, four cruise missiles and 47 drones, according to a statement posted on the social media platform X.
Middle East War: US-Israeli strike kills one, damages port infrastructure in Iran’s Charak
A US-Israeli attack killed one person and damaged a passenger terminal and civilian infrastructure at Iranâs Gulf port of Charak, Iranâs Tasnim news agency reported.
Middle East Crisis: White House seeks $1.5 trillion defense budget amid Iran war
US President Donald Trump has proposed raising defense spending to $1.5 trillion in his 2027 budget, marking the largest such request in decades and underscoring his focus on military investment over domestic programmes.
The sharp increase for the Pentagon had been signaled by the Republican president even before the US-led war against Iran. Under the proposal, spending on non-defense programs would be cut by 10%, with some responsibilities shifted to state and local governments, according to the Associated Press.
âPresident Trump is committed to rebuilding our military to secure peace through strength,â the budget document said.
The annual presidential budget outlines the administrationâs priorities but does not carry the force of law. Congress, which controls federal spending, can reject or modify the proposal and often does, the Associated Press reported.
Middle East Crisis: University campus, airport struck in Tehran, says Iranian state media
The campus of a university in northern Tehran and the Mehrabad airport area in the western area of the city were hit in US-Israeli strikes, Iranian state media reported.
(With Reuters inputs)
Middle East Crisis: Iran state media highlights region where search for 'downed' US pilots is underway
Iran's state broadcaster, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) shares a map with an encircled area, saying it highlights the region where both Iranian and US forces are searching for two American pilots whose fighter jets Iranian official media claim were shot down successfully.
A region where Iran and the United States have been searching for #two American pilots since this morning. pic.twitter.com/cSCfkQvyaA
â IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) (@iribnews_irib) April 3, 2026
Middle East War: Iranian state media announces bounty for US fighter pilot who 'ejected' from aircraft
A channel affiliated with Iran's state television claimed on Friday that a US fighter pilot ejected from their aircraft over southwestern Iran.
The anchor on the channel in Iranâs Kohkilouyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province read the following announcement: "If you capture the enemy pilot or pilots alive and hand them over to the police, you will receive a precious prize."
(With AP inputs)
West Asia Conflict: Iranian media cites Iraqi reports to claim US Black Hawk shot down
Iran's state-affiliated Tasnim News Agency reports that Iranian air defence systems successfully shot down a US UH-60 Black Hawk attack helicopter in Iraqi airspace, citing unconfirmed reports circulating on Iraqi media channels.

US Israel Iran War: Trump says US can reopen Hormuz with 'a little more time'
President Donald Trump on Friday said the US can open the Strait of Hormuz with a little more time.
"With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL,& MAKE A FORTUNE," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
(Reuters)
Middle East: 5 Indians, 7 Nepalis injured by falling interception debris in Abu Dhabi
Twelve people, including 5 Indian nationals, were injured by the falling interception debris that caused a fire at an energy facility in Abu Dhabi on Friday, according to authorities.
"As part of the ongoing follow-up to the previously reported incident in the Ajban area caused by falling debris following the successful interception by air defence systems, authorities confirm that the incident has resulted in minor to moderate injuries sustained by 6 individuals of Nepali nationality and 5 individuals of Indian nationality, and one major injury sustained by an individual of Nepali nationality," Abu Dhabi's Media Office said in a post on X.
West Asia Conflict: UK says it's deploying Rapid Sentry air defence system to Kuwait
Britain is deploying its Rapid Sentry air defence system to Kuwait to help protect British and Kuwaiti interests in the Gulf, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office said on Friday, after an overnight Iranian drone attack on a Kuwaiti oil facility.
Starmer discussed the deployment in a call with Kuwait's Crown Prince Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah on Friday morning, a Downing Street spokesperson said.
"The Prime Minister began by condemning the reckless overnight drone attack on a Kuwaiti oil refinery," the spokesperson said. "He reiterated that the UK stands with Kuwait and all our allies in the Gulf."
The spokesperson said the leaders discussed the deployment of the UK's air defence system â designed primarily to shoot down drones and other low-flying aerial threats â to Kuwait, which would protect Kuwaiti and British personnel and interests in the region, while avoiding escalation into a wider conflict.
Starmer and the crown prince also discussed disruption to global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and welcomed a meeting chaired by British foreign minister Yvette Cooper on Thursday to draw up a plan to reopen the vital shipping route.
(Reuters)
Middle East Tension: Iran claims hitting US amphibious vessels in Kuwait
Iranian ballistic missiles struck multiple US amphibious vessels stationed at the Al-Shuwaikh Port in Kuwait, claims Iranian state-affiliated media outlet Press TV.

