Iran war: One downed US fighter jet pilot rescued

## Summary
https://p.dw.com/p/5Bc7y The US fighter jet was reported to be a F-15E, like the one seen here [File photo: January 12, 2025] Image: Kevin Sawford/imageBROKER/picture alliance Advertisement Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know One crew member was rescued, and a rescue mission is underway to find another after a US fighter jet was shot down over Iran Still far below pre-war levels, more ships are passing through the Strait of Hormuz Trump says US military has 'not even started' destroying what's left in Iran US strikes will target 'bridges next, then electric power plants,' Trump adds US oil prices continue to climb to more than $111 per barrel on fears of escalation in Iran war France, South Korean leaders pledge to work together on reopening Hormuz Here are the main developments in the US-Israeli war with Iran on April 3: Skip next section US Embassy in Beirut urges Americans to leave Lebanon 04/03/2026 April 3, 2026 US Embassy in Beirut urges Americans to leave Lebanon The US Embassy in Beirut urged Americans to leave Lebanon on Friday while commercial flights remain available. "The security situation in Lebanon is volatile and unpredictable," the embassy said in a statement. "Airstrikes, drones and rocket attacks occur throughout the country, especially in the south, the Beqaa, and parts of Beirut," it said. Also on Friday, the Israeli military said it had launched attacks on Tehran, alongside the strikes in Lebanon 's capital. "In addition to the strikes in Beirut, the IDF has begun a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian regime in Tehran," it said. https://p.dw.com/p/5Bdb0 Skip next section Blast in southern Lebanon injures 3 UN peacekeepers 04/03/2026 April 3, 2026 Blast in southern Lebanon injures 3 UN peacekeepers UN peacekeepers have been monitoring the border region between Israel and Lebanon since 1978 Image: Silvia Casadei/MEI/SIPA/picture alliance The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon says three peacekeepers were injured when an explosion hit one of its positions in the country's south on Friday. UN peacekeepers have been monitoring the border region between Israel and Lebanon since 1978. https://p.dw.com/p/5BdaN Skip next section Iran offers bounty for US pilots reportedly shot down 04/03/2026 April 3, 2026 Iran offers bounty for US pilots reportedly shot down Iran says it has deployed troops and offered a bounty in its search for US Air Force personnel who were reportedly shot down over southwestern Iran on Friday. "Military forces have launched a search operation to find the American fighter pilot who was hit earlier today," the state-run Fars news agency said, calling on inhabitants of the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province to help in the search. "If you capture the enemy pilot or pilots alive and hand them over to the police and military forces, you will receive a valuable reward and bonus," said an Iranian television reporter on an official local channel. Earlier, on Thursday, China's envoy, Fu Cong, told the Security Council that "legitimizing the unlawful and indiscriminate use of force, which would inevitably lead to further escalation of the situation and lead to serious consequences." French President Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, told reporters on Friday that reopening the Strait of Hormuz using force was "unrealistic." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has cautioned the United Nations Security Council against taking what he called "provocative action." Why reopening the Strait of Hormuz by force is so dangerous To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video https://p.dw.com/p/5BdW2 Skip next section Strait of Hormuz: More ships passing through 04/03/2026 April 3, 2026 Strait of Hormuz: More ships passing through Sean Sinico Editor The number of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz reportedly increased for three consecutive days this week, according to a report by the data firm Windward.

## Article Content
https://p.dw.com/p/5Bc7y
The US fighter jet was reported to be a F-15E, like the one seen here [File photo: January 12, 2025]
Image: Kevin Sawford/imageBROKER/picture alliance
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Skip next section What you need to know
What you need to know
One crew member was rescued, and a rescue mission is underway to find another after a US fighter jet was shot down over Iran
Still far below pre-war levels, more ships are passing through the Strait of Hormuz
Trump says US military has 'not even started' destroying what's left in Iran
US strikes will target 'bridges next, then electric power plants,' Trump adds
US oil prices continue to climb to more than $111 per barrel on fears of escalation in Iran war
France, South Korean leaders pledge to work together on reopening Hormuz
Here are the main developments in the
US-Israeli war with Iran
on April 3:
Skip next section US Embassy in Beirut urges Americans to leave Lebanon
04/03/2026
April 3, 2026
US Embassy in Beirut urges Americans to leave Lebanon
The US Embassy in Beirut urged Americans to leave
Lebanon
on Friday while commercial flights remain available.
"The
security situation in Lebanon
is volatile and unpredictable," the embassy said in a statement.
"Airstrikes, drones and rocket attacks occur throughout the country, especially in the south, the Beqaa, and parts of Beirut," it said.
The embassy also said that "Iran and its aligned terrorist militias may intend to target universities in Lebanon," citing Iranian threats against American universities in the region.
In its statement, the embassy did not mention numerous Israeli strikes that have hit Beirut and other parts of Lebanon (see entry below).
https://p.dw.com/p/5BdhL
Skip next section 'US does not have air superiority over Iran,' expert tells DW
Published 04/03/2026
Published April 3, 2026
last updated 04/03/2026
last updated April 3, 2026
'US does not have air superiority over Iran,' expert tells DW
The downing of a US jet in Iran showed that Tehran still had the ability to damage US interests in the Middle East, military expert Emma Salisbury told DW.
Despite the US Air Force having newer and more capable aircraft than Iran, she said Iranian drones and missiles remained a significant threat.
"A lot of the damage that we've seen to both aircraft and ships that has been done by the Iranians has all been drones and missiles," she said. "Ultimately, the US does not have air superiority over Iran, and this is something that I don't think it will be able to achieve anytime soon."
Iran's supply of drones and missiles is also difficult for US and Israeli airstrikes to destroy, she added.
"The Iranians do have huge stocks of drones and huge stocks of missiles, and they are able to fire those from so many locations within Iran that it is really very difficult to attack that kind of capability," Salisbury said.
Salisbury, a senior fellow at the US-based nonpartisan think tank Foreign Policy Research Institute, spoke to DW shortly before US and Israeli media reported that one of the F-15's two crew had been rescued.
A search-and-rescue operation is ongoing to find the jet's navigator.
"There are a couple of US Air Force planes conducting a search and rescue operation at the moment," Salisbury said. "It is risky for these planes to be flying so low over hostile land, but it's very important to the US military that they never leave anyone behind."
https://p.dw.com/p/5Bdh0
Skip next section One US fighter jet crew member reportedly rescued
04/03/2026
April 3, 2026
One US fighter jet crew member reportedly rescued
One of the two crew members aboard a US fighter jet that was downed over Iran has reportedly been rescued, according to US and Israeli media. The individual is reportedly alive.
US broadcaster CBS News reported the development, citing two anonymous US sources.
Israel's public broadcaster Kan cited Western security sources and online outlet Walla quoted an Israeli security source making similar comments about the pilot's fate.
US media reported that President Donald Trump had been briefed on the situation. There has not yet been an official response from the White House or the Department of Defense to requests for comment on the fate of the jet's crew members.
A search-and-rescue operation to find the jet's navigator continues.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Bdfw
Skip next section Israel says it is striking 'terror infrastructure' in Beirut
04/03/2026
April 3, 2026
Israel says it is striking 'terror infrastructure' in Beirut
Image: AFP
The Israeli military (IDF) said on Friday it ‌was carrying out strikes on what it ​called "terror infrastructure" in the ​Lebanese capital, ​
Beirut
.
Correspondents from the Reuters and AFP news agencies reported hearing loud explosions echoing across the city.
Local media said the strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs, hours after Israel's army issued an evacuation warning for the area.
The densely populated neighborhoods in the city's south are considered a stronghold of the Iran-

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- Despite the US Air Force having newer and more capable aircraft than Iran, she said Iranian drones and missiles remained a significant threat. "A lot of the damage that we've seen to both aircraft and ships that has been done by the Iranians has all been drones and missiles," she said. "Ultimately, the US does not have air superiority over Iran, and this is something that I don't think it will be able to achieve anytime soon." Iran's supply of drones and missiles is also difficult for US and Israeli airstrikes to destroy, she added. "The Iranians do have huge stocks of drones and huge stocks of missiles, and they are able to fire those from so many locations within Iran that it is really very difficult to attack that kind of capability," Salisbury said.
- A search-and-rescue operation is ongoing to find the jet's navigator. "There are a couple of US Air Force planes conducting a search and rescue operation at the moment," Salisbury said. "It is risky for these planes to be flying so low over hostile land, but it's very important to the US military that they never leave anyone behind." https://p.dw.com/p/5Bdh0 Skip next section One US fighter jet crew member reportedly rescued 04/03/2026 April 3, 2026 One US fighter jet crew member reportedly rescued One of the two crew members aboard a US fighter jet that was downed over Iran has reportedly been rescued, according to US and Israeli media.
- UN peacekeepers have been monitoring the border region between Israel and Lebanon since 1978. https://p.dw.com/p/5BdaN Skip next section Iran offers bounty for US pilots reportedly shot down 04/03/2026 April 3, 2026 Iran offers bounty for US pilots reportedly shot down Iran says it has deployed troops and offered a bounty in its search for US Air Force personnel who were reportedly shot down over southwestern Iran on Friday. "Military forces have launched a search operation to find the American fighter pilot who was hit earlier today," the state-run Fars news agency said, calling on inhabitants of the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province to help in the search. "If you capture the enemy pilot or pilots alive and hand them over to the police and military forces, you will receive a valuable reward and bonus," said an Iranian television reporter on an official local channel.
- The procession ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of the most significant Christian churches, where Jesus is believed to have been buried and resurrected.

### Areas for Consideration
- Despite the US Air Force having newer and more capable aircraft than Iran, she said Iranian drones and missiles remained a significant threat. "A lot of the damage that we've seen to both aircraft and ships that has been done by the Iranians has all been drones and missiles," she said. "Ultimately, the US does not have air superiority over Iran, and this is something that I don't think it will be able to achieve anytime soon." Iran's supply of drones and missiles is also difficult for US and Israeli airstrikes to destroy, she added. "The Iranians do have huge stocks of drones and huge stocks of missiles, and they are able to fire those from so many locations within Iran that it is really very difficult to attack that kind of capability," Salisbury said.

### Implications
- https://p.dw.com/p/5Bc7y The US fighter jet was reported to be a F-15E, like the one seen here [File photo: January 12, 2025] Image: Kevin Sawford/imageBROKER/picture alliance Advertisement Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know One crew member was rescued, and a rescue mission is underway to find another after a US fighter jet was shot down over Iran Still far below pre-war levels, more ships are passing through the Strait of Hormuz Trump says US military has 'not even started' destroying what's left in Iran US strikes will target 'bridges next, then electric power plants,' Trump adds US oil prices continue to climb to more than $111 per barrel on fears of escalation in Iran war France, South Korean leaders pledge to work together on reopening Hormuz Here are the main developments in the US-Israeli war with Iran on April 3: Skip next section US Embassy in Beirut urges Americans to leave Lebanon 04/03/2026 April 3, 2026 US Embassy in Beirut urges Americans to leave Lebanon The US Embassy in Beirut urged Americans to leave Lebanon on Friday while commercial flights remain available. "The security situation in Lebanon is volatile and unpredictable," the embassy said in a statement. "Airstrikes, drones and rocket attacks occur throughout the country, especially in the south, the Beqaa, and parts of Beirut," it said.
- The embassy also said that "Iran and its aligned terrorist militias may intend to target universities in Lebanon," citing Iranian threats against American universities in the region.
- Despite the US Air Force having newer and more capable aircraft than Iran, she said Iranian drones and missiles remained a significant threat. "A lot of the damage that we've seen to both aircraft and ships that has been done by the Iranians has all been drones and missiles," she said. "Ultimately, the US does not have air superiority over Iran, and this is something that I don't think it will be able to achieve anytime soon." Iran's supply of drones and missiles is also difficult for US and Israeli airstrikes to destroy, she added. "The Iranians do have huge stocks of drones and huge stocks of missiles, and they are able to fire those from so many locations within Iran that it is really very difficult to attack that kind of capability," Salisbury said.
- Salisbury, a senior fellow at the US-based nonpartisan think tank Foreign Policy Research Institute, spoke to DW shortly before US and Israeli media reported that one of the F-15's two crew had been rescued.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers iran, israeli, lebanon topics. Notable strengths include discussion of iran. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 2414.