Tehran: According to officials from both sides, Iranian forces are actively searching for a missing U.S. pilot after a two-seat F-15E fighter jet was brought down by Iranian fire. Meanwhile, two U.S. airmen were successfully rescued after ejecting from separate aircraft, including an A-10 Warthog that crashed in Kuwait following a reported strike.

The incidents highlight the persistent dangers faced by U.S. and Israeli aircraft, even as U.S. leadership maintains claims of air superiority. Two Black Hawk helicopters deployed to locate the missing pilot also came under Iranian fire but managed to exit Iranian airspace. The extent of any injuries sustained during the operation remains unclear.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed it is combing a southwestern region where the pilot is believed to have landed. Local authorities have reportedly offered rewards for capturing or killing what they described as “hostile enemy forces.”

The development adds significant pressure on Washington, particularly amid low domestic support for the war and no clear signs of de-escalation. President Donald Trump is said to be closely monitoring rescue efforts from the White House.

The conflict, now in its sixth week since joint U.S. and Israeli strikes began on February 28, has already claimed thousands of lives and triggered a global energy crisis. Initial attacks reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, further intensifying hostilities.

On the diplomatic front, ceasefire efforts appear stalled. Iran has reportedly declined to engage in upcoming talks with U.S. officials in Islamabad, with mediation attempts led by Pakistan hitting a dead end.

Tensions continue to ripple across the region. Iran has launched drones and missiles toward Israel and targeted Gulf nations aligned with the U.S. In Dubai, authorities reported no injuries after debris from intercepted aerial threats struck two buildings. Meanwhile, the U.S. embassy in Beirut has issued warnings of potential attacks on universities, urging American citizens to leave Lebanon.

Israel has simultaneously expanded its military campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah, conducting strikes on militant infrastructure in Beirut following attacks on Israeli territory.

The conflict has also exposed the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in the Gulf. Iran struck a power and water facility in Kuwait, raising alarms over regional reliance on desalination plants. In response, Trump has threatened further attacks on Iranian infrastructure, including bridges and power plants, signaling a potential intensification of military operations.

Additional strikes have targeted key energy and humanitarian sites. Drones reportedly hit Kuwait’s Mina al-Ahmadi refinery, while a Red Crescent warehouse in Iran’s Bushehr province was also struck. Missile debris was reported near Israel’s Haifa port, home to a major oil refinery.