US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

Reports from Iran indicate that a US military aircraft was shot down in a central region of the country, prompting a US rescue operation. US officials have yet to offer a statement on the matter.
Iranian media outlet Tasnim News Agency has released images it claims show the wreckage of the downed plane. The agency also reported that the US is attempting to recover the pilot, whose condition remains unknown.
According to Tasnim, the US launched a search and rescue operation using Black Hawk helicopters and a Hercules 130 aircraft approximately an hour ago, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Al Jazeera has been unable to confirm the details independently. In March, an American F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing following Iranian fire.

US President Donald Trump recently expressed his confidence on Truth Social, stating that with a bit more time, the US can effortlessly access the Strait of Hormuz, seize control of the oil, and reap substantial financial gains. He further emphasized that this development would have a profoundly positive impact on the global economy, likening it to an oil gusher.

Reports have emerged that Iran claims to have brought down a US fighter jet in central regions of the country, prompting a US response. Although US officials remain tight-lipped, Iranian media outlets have released images allegedly showing the crash site.
According to Iranian sources, a US rescue mission, utilizing Black Hawk helicopters and a Hercules 130, was launched to retrieve the downed pilot, whose status remains uncertain. However, these efforts have reportedly been unsuccessful, as per Iranian reports.
It is worth noting that Al Jazeera has been unable to confirm the authenticity of these claims. In a separate incident earlier this year, an American F-35 fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing following Iranian fire in March.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has denounced US and Israeli strikes on Iranian bridges as a “war crime reminiscent of ISIS terrorism,” in response to US President Donald Trump’s vow to escalate attacks on Iranian infrastructure. This condemnation comes after the partial destruction of the B1 bridge connecting Tehran to Karaj. In a statement, Baghaei emphasized that targeting Iran’s iconic bridges, which serve as testaments to the nation’s engineering prowess and the dedication of its workers, only serves to highlight the malicious intentions of the perpetrators.

In a phone conversation on Friday morning, Pope Leo XIV implored Israeli President Isaac Herzog to revive diplomatic efforts and bring an end to the ongoing conflict in the region, with a focus on achieving a lasting and equitable peace in the Middle East.

Manila has secured a crucial agreement with Tehran, ensuring the safe passage of Philippine-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz. This breakthrough marks a significant milestone for the Philippines, paving the way for uninterrupted oil shipments and underscoring the strait’s continued importance as a global shipping route.
Following prolonged diplomatic engagement, the Philippines initiated talks with Iran, with the aim of being recognized as a non-hostile state. Foreign Minister Theresa Lazaro hailed the negotiations as successful and productive, with her Iranian counterpart committing to facilitate the unimpeded, expedited passage of Philippine vessels and their crew.

Despite escalating tensions between the US and Iran, and a surge in energy prices, with Brent crude trading at $110 a barrel, an 8 percent increase from earlier, Asian markets are exhibiting a remarkable turnaround. The uptick in oil prices, coupled with the long Easter weekend closures in several markets, including Singapore, has not dampened investor sentiment. Instead, key markets in the region are experiencing a reversal of their sharp losses from the previous day. South Korea’s KOSPI has gained around 3 percent, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 has risen by approximately 1 percent.

Oman and Iran are engaged in high-level discussions aimed at establishing a collaborative framework for managing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that serves as a vital artery for the global economy. According to reports from the Iranian state-run news agency IRNA, the talks are centered on drafting a comprehensive protocol that would govern the passage of vessels through the narrow strait, which is traversed by nearly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas shipments during times of peace. The Strait of Hormuz is strategically situated between Iran and Oman, with the latter country’s proximity to the waterway making it an integral player in any future agreement. Since the outbreak of the US-Israel conflict with Iran on February 28, Tehran has effectively restricted access to the strait for most international shipping, with the exception of select nations that have negotiated special arrangements with the Iranian government. The terms and scope of the proposed Iran-Oman protocol remain unclear, and it is uncertain whether a mutually acceptable agreement can be reached, particularly given the concerns of other Gulf states that rely heavily on the strait for the export of their energy resources.

A sudden energy crisis has beset Pakistan, largely due to the escalating conflict between the US and Israel and Iran. Initially, this year, the country found itself with an excess of imported liquefied natural gas (LNG), a situation that had persisted for three consecutive years. The downward trend in demand, which had begun in 2021, peaked at 8.2 million tonnes, but by late 2025, it had dropped to 6.1 million tonnes, largely due to the proliferation of affordable solar panels and reduced industrial activity. As a country heavily reliant on LNG imports from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, and lacking emergency reserves, Pakistan’s shift from a surplus to a shortage of LNG occurred remarkably swiftly.

Iranian authorities assert that a second American F-35 fighter jet was brought down while in flight over central Iran, according to a statement issued by the Fars News Agency on Telegram. The agency reported that the aircraft was completely obliterated upon impact, with the extent of the pilot’s fate remaining uncertain due to the catastrophic damage sustained by the plane. Iranian news outlet Mehr suggested that the pilot’s ejection was unlikely, given the ferocity of the explosion that accompanied the crash. The US Central Command has yet to comment on the latest claim, although it did previously dispute an earlier assertion by Iranian authorities that they had successfully downed a US fighter jet.