Iran’s downing of two US military aircraft marks the first time in more than 20 years that American warplanes have been shot down by enemy fire, underlining Tehran’s continued ability to retaliate despite claims by US President Donald Trump that the country has been “completely decimated.”
The incidents come five weeks into the ongoing US-Israeli campaign against Iran. Earlier this week, Trump had said Tehran’s “ability to launch missiles and drones is dramatically curtailed.” However, US officials confirmed that Iran shot down an F-15E Strike Eagle on Friday. One service member has been rescued, while search operations continue for another. Iranian state media also reported that a US A-10 attack aircraft crashed after being struck by Iranian air defences.
