Iran shoots down US F-15E and A-10, raising stakes for Trump
Get the Geopolitics newsletter
Daily geopolitics — wars, elections, sanctions, the diplomatic moves that move markets. Free.
- Iran shot down a U.S. F-15E fighter jet over southwestern Iran, confirming the aircraft was hit by Iranian fire and that one crew member was rescued while the other remains missing.
- Iran also hit a U.S. A-10 Warthog aircraft, which crashed in Kuwait; the pilot ejected and survived.
- Iran fired on two U.S. Blackhawk helicopters involved in the search for the missing F-15E crew, but the helicopters escaped Iranian airspace.
- Trump received daily updates on the rescue effort and was briefed on the situation, according to a senior administration official.
- Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf posted on X that the U.S. and Israel's war had been downgraded from regime change to a hunt for pilots, reflecting domestic celebration of the downings.
- William Goodhind of Contested Ground identified images of the downed jet's tail fin as consistent with an F-15E Strike Eagle, corroborating the aircraft type.
- US Central Command reported that 13 U.S. service members have been killed and over 300 wounded in the ongoing conflict, underscoring the broader stakes.
Why it matters: The loss of the F-15E and A-10 intensifies pressure on the Trump administration, as a missing U.S. crew member could become a high‑profile captive and Iran’s celebratory messaging bolsters its domestic narrative, while the U.S. faces heightened operational risk and political liability.
