- By Nidhi Giri
- Sun, 05 Apr 2026 07:45 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
US-Iran War: As the military conflict between the US, Israel and Iran in West Asia continues, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) has claimed to have seriously challenged US air supremacy in the last 24 hours. According to the Revolutionary Guard, two US fighter jets were shot down and three military helicopters were damaged during this period.
If these claims are confirmed, this would be the first time in 20 years that a US warplane has been shot down by enemy action in a battlefield. The last time this happened was with an A-10 Thunderbolt II during the Iraq War in 2003. Iran has released videos and photos of these incidents. However, the Pentagon and the US Central Command have not yet officially confirmed these claims. The Iranian military claimed that the new air defense system is working accurately and that it will soon regain complete control of its airspace.
Iran's Air Force Has Been Virtually Neutralised: Trump
According to the New York Times, United States President Donald Trump recently stated in an address that American aircraft are flying unhindered over Tehran and other parts of Iran and that Iran's air force has been virtually neutralised. He has repeatedly claimed that Iran's air defense capabilities have been destroyed.
ALSO READ: 'Time Is Running Out': Trump Reminds Iran Of 48-Hour Hormuz Deadline Before 'Hell Will Reign'
In contrast, on Friday, Iran claimed to have shot down a US F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet. Following this, videos emerged on the internet showing HC-130J Combat King II and HH-60 helicopters conducting a search and rescue operation over Iranian skies.
Iran Shoots Down US F-15E Strike Eagle Fighter Jet
According to Reuters, Iran claims that two helicopters came under attack during the operation and were forced to leave Iranian airspace. Reports indicate that US rescuers were able to safely rescue one pilot, while the search for the other pilot continues. Iran has announced a reward of 10 billion Iranian tomans for anyone who captures the missing pilot.
Iranian state media then claimed that another US fighter jet, an A-10 Thunderbolt-2, also fell into the Persian Gulf after being attacked, although its pilot managed to eject safely.
On Saturday, Iranian media released a video of a US Chinook helicopter being shot down in Kuwait. Commenting on the social media platform X, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqir Ghalibaf wrote that the direction of the war is constantly changing where the stated objective was regime change, now it's a search for pilots.
Meanwhile, Ismail Zolfaghari, spokesman for Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters, said that along with American fighter jets, three drones and two cruise missiles were also intercepted through the new air defense system.
According to the Associated Press, the Pentagon told the US House of Representatives Armed Services Committee that the second pilot has not yet been located and the search is ongoing. The Wall Street Journal reported that President Trump is monitoring the operation from the White House.
Speaking to NBC News, Trump did not explicitly acknowledge the plane being hit, but said it would not impact diplomatic talks with Iran. He declined to provide further details, saying only that the search and rescue operation was ongoing.
Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Facility Attacked For Fourth Time
In the 36-day-long military conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran in West Asia, attacks on each other's vital installations continue. On Saturday, Iran's crucial Bushehr nuclear facility was attacked for the fourth time, killing a security guard. Even during the war, the facility remained operational and supplied electricity to the country. Iran has informed the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, which has stated that no radiation hazard has been detected around the facility.
The Mahshahr petrochemical zone in southwest Iran was also attacked, in which five people were reportedly injured. An airstrike hit a bottled water warehouse in western Iran. Iran's retaliatory attack caused explosions and sirens to resonate from Tel Aviv to Dubai. In Dubai, two buildings were damaged by missile debris. The office of American tech company Oracle located in Dubai Internet City was also hit.
IRGC Threatens To Target 18 US Tech Companies
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard recently claimed to have targeted 18 American tech companies. According to the Dubai Media Office, the attack caused minor damage. The company has not issued a statement. Iran claimed to have carried out a drone attack on an Israeli oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, setting it on fire. Israel also claimed to have attacked with cluster bombs.
Israel Launches Massive Attack On Hezbollah In Lebanon
Israel continued its heavy attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran claimed to have destroyed a mobile ballistic missile launcher in the northwestern city of Tabriz, and launched a barrage of missiles and airstrikes on Tehran. Kuwait claimed to have intercepted eight Iranian ballistic missiles and 19 drones in the past 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Trump issued a warning before the 10-day moratorium on attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure expires. He wrote on Truth Social that Iran must reach a deal or open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, or else they will face doom.
Trump Targets NATO
Trump also targeted NATO, saying it had proven to be a weak and unreliable partner, and hinted that the US may review its relationship with it.
Iran Targets Patriot Missile With New Air Defense System
Meanwhile, Ibrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, claimed on Saturday that the new air defense system had targeted a US HIMARS rocket launcher battery in Kuwait and a Patriot missile battery in Bahrain, and that more lethal attacks would follow. Iran's strong hold on the Strait of Hormuz remains intact even after 36 days of hostilities. The issue continued to be discussed at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
Attacks On US Military Bases In Iraq
The Iran-backed Islamic Resistance group claimed 19 attacks on US military bases in Iraq. According to Iraqi police sources, the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) headquarters in al-Qaim was among the targets. The PMF's 34th Brigade headquarters in Mosul was also attacked.
The US Embassy in Baghdad has warned American citizens about possible attacks on X. The embassy stated that attacks on civilians and their targets could occur within 24 to 48 hours. The embassy stated that the Iraqi government has taken no initiative to prevent or retaliate against the terrorist attacks. Local citizens have been urged to provide information about these terrorist hideouts.