Iran hits energy sites in Kuwait as US says downed pilot rescued (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)

05 April 2026

Two US transport aircraft used in the rescue of a crew member from a downed F-15E fighter jet inside Iran were destroyed on the ground to prevent sensitive equipment from falling into Iranian hands,  The New York Times reported.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq said it had carried out 19 drone attacks over the past 24 hours targeting what it described as enemy bases in Iraq and elsewhere in the region, without providing details on the locations hit or any damage caused. There was no immediate confirmation from US or allied officials.

Donald Trump said American forces had rescued two airmen shot down over Iran, describing the recovery of a navigator as “one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History,” in a statement on his Truth Social platform. He said the crew member, a colonel, had been located “behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran” and was now “SAFE and SOUND!” after sustaining injuries, adding: “He will be just fine.”

Trump said the operation involved “dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the World,” and confirmed that a second pilot from an F-15E Strike Eagle had been rescued a day earlier in a mission not previously disclosed.

“This is the first time in military memory that two U.S. Pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in Enemy Territory,” he said, adding that both missions were carried out “without a SINGLE American killed, or even wounded,” which he said demonstrated “overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies.”

The Israel Defense Forces said on Saturday it had struck more than 200 targets linked to Iranian military infrastructure across Iran and over 140 Hezbollah sites in Lebanon, including weapons storage facilities, missile production and development locations, and air defense systems.

In a post on X, the IDF said the Iranian targets included a central site associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps where various weapons were stored, while in Lebanon the strikes hit training facilities, weapons depots, launch sites and headquarters belonging to Hezbollah’s Radwan Force.

More than 70% of tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks have been Iranian or linked to Iran, according to ship-tracking data, underscoring Tehran’s dominant presence in the strategic waterway during the ongoing conflict.

TankerTrackers.com said that of 108 tankers recorded passing through the strait over the past 36 days, 78 were either Iranian-owned or affiliated, as overall traffic remains sharply reduced since late February.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had targeted US military assets including Patriot air defense systems and HIMARS rocket launchers in the latest wave of retaliatory strikes, according to Iranian state media.

In a statement carried by Press TV on Saturday, the IRGC said the strikes were part of its latest operation, adding that US HIMARS batteries in Kuwait and a Patriot system in Bahrain were among the targets hit, along with other facilities across the region.

There was no immediate confirmation from US officials.

Two daughters of late Iranian general Qassem Soleimani have denied that two Iranian women detained in the United States are related to their family, contradicting a claim by the US State Department.

In remarks carried by Fars News Agency, Soleimani’s daughter Zeinab said: “The US State Department’s claim is a lie: the people arrested in the United States have no connection to the family.” 

Another daughter, Narjes, told Iranian state media: “To this day, no member of the family nor any relative of Martyr Soleimani has resided in the United States.” 

Earlier, the State Department said a woman identified as Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, described as Soleimani’s niece, and her daughter were taken into custody after their green cards were revoked, alleging she had supported Iran’s government and “celebrated attacks against American soldiers and military facilities in the Middle East.”

Iran’s central military command has rejected a 48-hour ultimatum by US President Donald Trump, who threatened to destroy the country’s vital infrastructure if Tehran does not accept a peace deal.

In a statement, General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters described Trump’s warning as “a helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid action,” adding: “If the American–Zionist enemy carries out any aggression, we will, without limitation, subject all the infrastructures used by the US terrorist army, as well as the infrastructures of the Zionist regime, to continuous and devastating attacks.”

Trump earlier wrote on Truth Social: “Time is running out – 48 hours before all hell will reign down on them.” Aliabadi said: “The simple meaning of this message is that the gates of hell will open for you.”

Satellite imaging firm Planet Labs said it will indefinitely withhold imagery of Iran and other Middle East conflict zones following a request from the US government, according to an email sent to customers.

The California-based company said the move expands a previously imposed 14-day delay and will apply to imagery dating back to March 9, remaining in place until the conflict ends, as authorities seek to prevent adversaries from using commercial satellite data for military purposes such as targeting and missile guidance.

Planet Labs added it will shift to a “managed distribution” model, releasing images selectively for mission-critical or public-interest use,

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued an evacuation warning late on Saturday for residents of Kfar Hatta, a village in southern Lebanon, ahead of planned airstrikes against Hezbollah.

“Hezbollah’s activities are forcing the IDF to act against it with force. The IDF does not intend to harm you. For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and move at least 1,000 meters away from the village,” army spokesman Avichay Adraee said.

The military noted the village lies north of the Zahrani River and had not been covered by its earlier blanket evacuation warning for southern Lebanon.

A crew member from a downed F-15E Strike Eagle has been located in Iran following a rescue attempt involving a “fierce firefight,” but remains inside the country, Axios and Al Jazeera reported on Sunday, citing a US government source.

The source said the operation is ongoing and the airman has not yet been safely extracted, with continued hostilities posing risks to both the individual and personnel involved in the rescue effort. No further details were provided, including the condition or identity of the crew member.

There has been no confirmation from the Pentagon.

Journalist Nick Sortor, citing US government sources, reported “intense clashes” between American troops on a mission to rescue the downed F-15 crew members and Iranian forces.

“It is not believed that he has been extracted yet,” Sortor wrote on X.

An unverified video posted on social media appears to show combat near Dehdasht, the capital of Iran’s Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, where US forces are reportedly searching for a downed F-15 crew member.

Iranian media reported that a telecommunications tower in Dehdasht was hit by an airstrike.

The US is continuing efforts to rescue a crew member of an F-15 fighter jet shot down over Iranian territory on Friday.

Iranian media reported that the US was conducting airstrikes in the southwestern province of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, where the weapons systems officer is said to have ejected from the aircraft. Some outlets also reported firefights between US commandos and Iran’s Basij paramilitary force, as well as locals firing small arms at US helicopters flying low over the area.

The Pentagon has not commented on the rescue operation or the aviator’s status.

04 April 2026

An Iranian drone reportedly struck a high-rise building housing the headquarters of the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation on Sunday.

Kuwait’s General Staff said the Gulf state’s air defenses were engaging Iranian drones and missiles.

At least 17 people were arrested at an anti-war rally in Tel Aviv’s Habima Square on Saturday, Israeli police said.

Organizers said some activists were attacked by supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and accused police of preventing demonstrators from entering bomb shelters during an air raid siren. Police denied obstructing protesters from seeking shelter.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency, citing government sources, reported that Tehran had added “two main power plants” in Israel to its target list.

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump threatened to intensify airstrikes unless the Strait of Hormuz is reopened within 48 hours.

US President Donald Trump posted a video of strikes in Iran’s capital.

“Many of Iran’s Military Leaders, who have led them poorly and unwisely, are terminated, along with much else, with this massive strike in Tehran!” he wrote on Truth Social.

Yemen’s Houthi movement has claimed a missile and drone attack targeting Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport and military sites in the south. Israeli authorities said a missile launched from Yemen fell in an open area, causing no casualties or damage.

Earlier on Saturday, Iran’s army said it had conducted drone strikes targeting the airport. A video purportedly showing the launch was circulated by local media.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the US deluded itself – and much of the global community – into believing that it was the “world’s police,” Christopher Helali, international secretary of the American Communist Party, has told RT, citing the US interventions in the former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya. He noted that until recently, Washington had picked on relatively weak countries in terms of their military capabilities and internal resilience – something that seemed to cement the image of the US’ invincibility.

However, in taking on Iran, which is a “bigger country with a bigger population and a more robust government and military,” the US has inadvertently revealed its “soft underbelly,” according to Helali.

By efficiently applying asymmetric warfare, Tehran has proved it can “put the check on the United States,” he argued. Even though Washington did eliminate some of the Iranian leadership, “the revolutionary government exists deep within the country,” he said.

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency for “downplaying a global threat with passive rhetoric,” after IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi expressed “deep concern” and called for “maximum military restraint” in the wake of US-Israeli strikes on Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant earlier on Saturday.

This is the fourth time the facility has come under attack since the war began.

The AEOI argued that an apparent lack of unequivocal condemnation from the international watchdog “only emboldens the aggressor.”

In a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi similarly accused the UN and the IAEA of failing to “take effective measures within their mandates” in the face of repeated US-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in recent weeks.

“This pattern of illegal attacks has inflicted irreparable damage on the credibility of the United Nations, the Security Council, the IAEA,” Araghchi wrote.

Israeli police have clashed with anti-war protesters in Tel Aviv, with several arrests made, local media has reported.

The authorities declared the gathering unlawful, citing an interim order by Israel’ High Court of Justice, which earlier on Saturday effectively banned rallies of more than 600 attendees in Tel Aviv’s Habima Square.

One of the organizers was heard shouting through a megaphone “there is no illegal demonstration,” as quoted by local media.

“We don’t trust this government... They don’t want us to demonstrate, we know this and we are here to say: Enough with the forever war,” the activist charged before being reportedly detained by officers.

“In recent days, the Air Force has destroyed 70% of Iran’s steel production capacity,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed in a video statement. He added that Israeli warplanes on Saturday also attacked petrochemical plants in the Islamic Republic.

Iran’s Khouzestan Steel Company and Mobarakeh Steel Company have confirmed that airstrikes had damaged their plants, saying that it could take months to complete the repairs.

Iraq is exempt from restrictions imposed by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, an Iranian armed forces spokesperson has said, adding that the measures apply only to “enemy countries.” According to the official, Iraqis are overwhelmingly supportive of Iran’s struggle against the US and Israel.

“You are a nation that bears the scars of the American occupation on your chest, and your struggle against America is worthy of appreciation and praise,” he stated, as quoted by Iranian media.

The spokesperson called on Iraqis to “end the imposed presence of America on its soil” and what he described as the plundering of the country’s resources by Washington.

Iranian forces have targeted US military radar in the UAE, as well as “command headquarters of mechanized, armored, and helicopter battalions” stationed in Kuwait with Arash 2 drones, Iranian media has claimed, publishing a video purportedly showing the UAV launches.

Additionally, “aluminum industries” in the UAE reportedly came under attack. According to Iranian media, the industrial sites in the Middle Eastern nation are extensively used in the production of US weapons, including F-35 warplanes, missiles, tanks, and armored vehicles.

A 21-year-old Israeli soldier was killed and another seriously wounded during a raid in southern Lebanon early on Saturday, the IDF has reported.

According to Times of Israel military correspondent Emanuel Fabian, Sgt. First Class Guy Ludar was fatally shot by his comrades as they captured a “suspect who was allegedly aiding Hezbollah” in the village of Shebaa. The incident is being investigated by the Israeli military.

The US-Israeli aggression against Iran, as well as West Jerusalem’s military campaigns in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon, have placed a “big question mark on the credibility of the international treaties and on the credibility of the international law,” Beirut-based academic and political researcher, Dr. Hayat El Hariri, has told RT.

She expressed skepticism as to whether an appeal to international law would have any effect on the US and Israel following the latest strikes on Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. President Donald Trump has openly proclaimed that the US will pay no heed to international norms when pursuing its foreign policy and national security objectives, Hariri noted.

India has purchased the first shipment of Iranian oil since 2019, the country’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has announced.

“Amid Middle East supply disruptions, Indian refiners have secured their crude oil requirements, including from Iran; and there is no payment hurdle for Iranian crude imports, contrary to the rumours being circulated,” it said in a statement on X.

Additionally, a vessel carrying 44,000 metric ​tons of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas arrived in the port of Mangalore on April 2, according to the ministry.

It stressed that Indian companies have “full flexibility to source oil from different sources & geographies based on commercial considerations.”

Last month, the US temporarily lifted sanctions on Iranian oil ‌and ⁠refined products amid global supply shortages.

A massive demonstration denouncing the US-Israeli aggression against Iran has taken place in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, Press TV reports, publishing a video that purportedly shows the rally.

US authorities have arrested the niece and grand niece of the late Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Major General Qasem Soleimani, the State Department has announced. The apprehension came after Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were stripped of lawful permanent resident (LPR) status by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

US officials described Afshar as an “outspoken supporter” of the Iranian government, adding that she has “celebrated attacks against American soldiers and military facilities in the Middle East” and “denounced America as the ‘Great Satan’,” while residing in Los Angeles.

The two are currently in the custody of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to the statement.

General Soleimani was killed in a 2020 US airstrike in Iraq.

The Israeli Air Force has published footage purportedly depicting an airstrike on a “truck that served as a mobile ballistic missile launcher in the Tabriz area” in northwestern Iran.

US President Donald Trump has warned that “time is running out” for Iran to unblock the Strait of Hormuz for shipping, referring to his previous ten-day ultimatum to Tehran.

“48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Maritime traffic through the strategically important chokepoint has dwindled to a trickle since the start of the US-Israeli aggression against Iran in late February. The Islamic Republic has vowed to prevent the passage of any vessels linked to “hostile nations” through the waterway, sending global oil and gas prices skyrocketing. Tehran has also announced that for the duration of the hostilities, it will be charging a fee for those seeking to traverse the strait.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has warned that the latest US-Israeli strikes on Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant are pushing the situation at the facility toward a “dangerous line.”

She said the “criminal and reckless actions are an indelible stain” on the reputation of Washington and West Jerusalem, accusing them of blatantly violating the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
Zakharova expressed hope that the attack on the Bushehr NPP will be condemned by the international community.

The US-Israeli strike on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant hit the facility’s defensive perimeter, Rosatom chief Aleksey Likhachev has said, confirming that one employee was killed by shrapnel. Rosatom is the plant’s builder, operator-partner, and key contractor.

In remarks to reporters, Likhachev added that it remains unclear whether the incident – the fourth such strike since the war began in late February – was accidental or deliberate. “One can only guess whether it was an accidental strike or a targeted strike, but it happened,” he said.

Likhachev reported that buses evacuating 198 Russian specialists departed from the site approximately 20 minutes after the latest strike. The group is expected to cross Iran within 2-3 days, then pass into Armenia and depart from Yerevan Airport.

Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari has claimed that US and Israeli losses on Friday included an F-35 fighter jet, two A-10 Warthog attack aircraft, and three drones.

“We are lying in wait for our enemies with great power,” he said in a video address. “The enemy should know that we are equipped with modern air defense systems… We will achieve full control of our country’s skies and prove the enemy’s incompetence to the world like never before.”

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization has condemned the attacks on its nuclear facilities, calling on the IAEA to fulfill its responsibilities and end what it described as “inaction.”

In a statement on X, the agency said Tehran will safeguard its nuclear sovereignty and warned it will pursue “legal action” over the watchdog’s response, warning it expects accountability under the IAEA’s statutory mandate.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has welcomed Tehran’s clarification of its stance on peace efforts, thanking his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.

“Truly appreciate your clarification, my Dear Brother,” Dar wrote on X.

Iran’s foreign minister has accused US media of misrepresenting Tehran’s position regarding negotiations, stressing that Iran remains “deeply grateful” to Pakistan for mediation efforts and has never declined a visit to Islamabad.

In a post on X, Abbas Araghchi stressed that Iran’s priority is securing the terms for a “conclusive and lasting end to the illegal war that is imposed on us.”

Iranian air defenses have shot down an AGM-158 JASSM cruise missile over Markazi province, PressTV reports. The outlet has also posted images purportedly showing debris from the intercepted missile online.

The IDF says missiles have been launched from Iran toward Israel, with air defense systems engaged to intercept the threat.

The Home Front Command has issued alerts to mobile phones in affected areas, instructing residents to enter protected spaces and remain there until further notice.

Afshin Rattansi speaks with Anthony Scaramucci, founder of SkyBridge Capital and a former aide to Donald Trump. The interview explores whether Trump is faltering in the war with Iran and what strategy he may pursue, Scaramucci’s view that decision-making in the administration operates as a “council of one,” and the implications of the Epstein Files, including whether the conflict is diverting attention from their fallout.

He also addresses the possibility of US ground troops in Iran, the stated and underlying goals of the war despite his opposition to its outset, claims by Joe Kent that the conflict serves Israeli interests, debates over preserving US global dominance, and the potential impact of de-dollarization as oil trade increasingly shifts toward the Chinese yuan.

Author and terrorism expert Taleb Ibrahim has condemned the reported US-Israeli strikes on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant as “madness in a military sense,” arguing they would bring “no change on the battlefield” while risking “very dangerous consequences.” Speaking to RT, he said Washington is seeking to “apply more and more pressure on Iran by destroying and undermining the infrastructure,” adding the attack also sends “a message to Russia and to the Russian nuclear industry.” 

Ibrahim warned that targeting nuclear facilities could trigger a regional catastrophe, invoking “Fukushima” and “Chernobyl,” and suggested Iran could escalate if such strikes continue, saying Tehran may ultimately retaliate “directly towards Dimona,” raising the prospect that “all the Middle East will be in a great super catastrophe.”

Open-source intelligence analysts estimate US aircraft losses in the war with Iran have exceeded $2 billion, with replacement costs likely higher, based on graphics circulating online.

The reported losses include four F-15E Strike Eagles, an A-10 Warthog, an F-35 Lightning II, an E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, and at least 17 MQ-9 Reaper drones, along with other military equipment.

The Iranian Embassy in Vienna has accused EU officials – particularly foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas – of “hypocrisy” and “deliberately” ignoring the root causes of the war.

It pointed to Kallas’ recent exchange with China’s foreign minister, in which she said Iran should respect the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea – a treaty Tehran has not signed – and her criticism of what she described as a “pay-to-pass” system in the Strait of Hormuz.

“The hypocrisy plaguing the EU has now reached a level of severity that can only be described as alarming – so much so that its officials no longer bother with coherent argumentation, instead stringing together hollow words in a grotesque parody of political discourse,” the embassy said on X. It added that instead of invoking international law over shipping routes, EU officials should condemn the US-Israeli strikes on civilian and industrial infrastructure in Iran and other countries of the region. “Absolutely no one has the right to hypocritically weaponize international law to secure their own interests.”

At least five Iranian university professors and more than 60 students have been killed in US-Israeli strikes, with 30 universities directly targeted, Science Minister Hossein Simaei Sarraf has said.

In remarks to reporters, he condemned the attacks on education and scientific facilities as “a crime against humanity,” adding that these actions represent “barbarity, crime, and unilateral and illegal aggression.”

Sarraf said that unless academics act, “this barbarity will not end,” stressing that targeting civilian and scientific infrastructure is “unbelievable” in the 21st century.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned of the consequences of strikes near the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, saying, “radioactive fallout will end life in [Gulf Cooperation Council] capitals, not Tehran.”

Earlier, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said a member of the plant’s security staff was killed in the strike and an auxiliary building was damaged, adding that no radiological threat has been detected.

The Israeli military says it carried out a new wave of strikes targeting alleged Quds Force Lebanon Corps command centers in Beirut.

According to the IDF, the unit acts as a liaison between Hezbollah and Tehran and supports Hezbollah’s military buildup.

The military added it also struck two Palestinian Islamic Jihad headquarters and a Hezbollah observation post.

Tehran has issued a permit allowing ships carrying essential goods and humanitarian aid to transit the Strait of Hormuz to Iranian ports and those in the Sea of Oman, according to Tasnim news agency.

The move comes amid tight Iranian control over the strategic waterway, where passage has largely been restricted to vessels coordinated with Iranian authorities.

The IAEA says it has been informed of a new strike near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, adding that no increase in radiation levels has been detected.

Iranian media earlier reported that one person was killed and an auxiliary building damaged in the incident, which Tehran blamed on the US and Israel.

In a statement on X, the agency confirmed a projectile struck near the site – the fourth such incident in recent weeks.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi expressed “deep concern” over the incident, noting that auxiliary structures “may contain vital safety equipment.” He added that NPP sites or nearby areas “must never be attacked” and reiterated his earlier call “for maximum military restraint to avoid risk of a nuclear accident.”

Footage from a surveillance camera posted online purportedly shows the moment of an alleged Hezbollah strike on the Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona.

Human rights lawyer Dan Kovalik told RT that Washington is framing the war on Iran in a way designed to build domestic backing, saying Trump “has to claim that” Tehran is targeting the American people “to get some modicum of support for this war.” 

He added that the administration “doesn’t have much support from the American people” and is portraying the conflict as being in their interest “when it’s very clearly not,” citing economic damage and US casualties.

Kovalik also dismissed US claims that Iran poses a direct threat, stating that “Iran has never been a threat to the US, but the US has often been a threat to Iran,” pointing to historical tensions and sanctions.

India has dismissed claims that the US-Israeli war on Tehran has disrupted its oil supplies, asserting that imports from Iran and other sources remain unaffected.

In a post on X, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said domestic refiners “have secured their crude oil requirements, including from Iran,” adding there are no payment issues for Iranian imports despite online rumors.

The online monitoring group Megatron has shared FlightRadar live tracking footage purportedly showing a large formation of US Air Force C-17 transport aircraft crossing the Atlantic toward the Middle East, alongside KC-135 refueling tankers.

The group noted that C-17s transport troops, armored vehicles, and heavy equipment, describing the movement as “the largest visible airlift” by the US since the war began.

The US has deployed special forces into Iran to search for the second pilot from a downed fighter jet, The Telegraph reports citing sources.

According to the outlet, both crew members ejected, “triggering a search race between Iran and the US,” with one pilot allegedly already recovered by US forces.

Earlier, the IRGC claimed it had shot down two US F-35 jets in the past 24 hours, though footage and images suggest the aircraft was an F-15. American sources confirmed the downed jet belonged to the US Air Force.

Iran has released footage showcasing what it calls the latest phase of its retaliatory military campaign against the US and Israel.

A projectile has struck near Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, killing one person, Tasnim news agency reports.

The strike reportedly hit near the facility’s perimeter, damaging an auxiliary building. The main operational units are said to have been unaffected and remain functional.

This is the fourth attack on the site since the start of US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. The IAEA earlier warned that any serious damage to the plant – which contains significant radioactive material – could trigger a major nuclear incident with far-reaching consequences.

Hegseth has repeatedly invoked his Catholic faith when discussing the conflict, including praying publicly from the Pentagon press room for “overwhelming violence of action” against enemies, and urging Americans to pray “every day, on bended knee” for victory in Iran “in the name of Jesus Christ.”

Religious framing, however, has extended beyond Washington, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invoking biblical imagery, while Iran has long portrayed its confrontation with the US and Israel as a quasi-religious struggle. 

The US military’s top Catholic priest, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, has rebuked Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for invoking Jesus to rally support for the war on Iran.

“It’s a little bit problematic in the sense that the Lord Jesus certainly brought a message of peace and also, I think, war is always a last resort,” Broglio said in an interview with ‘Face the Nation’. He added that while he may not know all the details behind the strikes on Iran, “I do think that it’s hard to cast this war as something that would be sponsored by the Lord.” 

Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari has warned that any attack on Iranian embassies or diplomatic sites will trigger “swift and decisive retaliation” against Israeli facilities in the region, which Tehran would consider “legitimate targets.”

The latest shake-up at the US Department of War reflects a drive for political loyalty rather than military effectiveness, former Pentagon analyst Michael Maloof told RT. He argued that US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth “wants to be surrounded by people who are total loyalists” and that “that’s what this is all about.” 

Commenting on the reported appointment of a new army chief aligned with Hegseth, Maloof said the move is shaped by internal politics, adding that “this is no way to run a military,” as the Pentagon’s leadership is being guided through “a political prism.” He also suggested that Hegseth is “trying to do all that he can to please Trump” amid pressure over his own position.

Hegseth fired Army Chief of Staff General Randy George, the top uniformed officer, in a lingering row over promotion linked to race and gender, the New York Times reported on Thursday. Hegseth also reportedly dismissed two other generals in a purge which is feared to be undermining the war against Iran.

Footage posted online by Iran’s Red Crescent shows damage at the Laser and Plasma Research Institute and a girls’ dormitory at Tehran’s Shahid Beheshti University following recent US airstrikes.

PressTV has released timelapse footage showing people in Tehran staging an overnight car rally in support of the government and armed forces, with long lines of vehicles moving through the capital, many adorned with Iranian flags.

Trump is “in panic mode,” former US National Security Adviser John Bolton has said, responding to a CNN question about why the president has not commented on reports that Iran downed at least two US fighter jets, prompting a rescue operation.

“It sounds to me like he’s probably back in a panic mode, wishing he could find a way to declare victory and get out of this [war], regardless of whether or not he opens the Strait of Hormuz before he does it,” Bolton said.

He added that Trump had the option of not launching the operation in the first place, and said any current difficulties “could and should have” been avoided.

The IRGC has denied responsibility for the March 3 drone attack on the US Embassy in Riyadh, attributing it to Israel.

The statement, carried by Iranian media, followed a Wall Street Journal report alleging the strike caused far greater damage than the Saudi authorities previously acknowledged. The Defense Ministry described a limited fire and minor damage, though the blaze reportedly burned for hours and led to extensive destruction.

Disputing the report, the IRGC said the attack “has absolutely nothing to do with the Iranian armed forces,” adding that, given what it called Israel’s previous provocations, it was “certainly carried out by Zionists.”

It also urged Muslim countries to remain “vigilant against the American-Zionist movement’s seditious intent to destabilize and destroy the region.”

Footage posted online by Israel’s Kan News purportedly shows a projectile striking the northern city of Kiryat Shmona.

Rescue services said the impact damaged a road, with shrapnel hitting nearby homes and cars. No injuries were reported, and the IDF said it is investigating the incident.

Iran struck multiple sites across the Tel Aviv area overnight, with damage reported in several cities, according to Israeli media.

Reports claim that a ballistic missile fired at central Israel carried a cluster warhead, dispersing bomblets across the area. Rescue teams are checking multiple suspected impact sites.

No immediate injuries have been reported. Footage circulating online purports to show impact craters, damaged buildings, and at least one unexploded munition, with police sappers deployed to the scene.

Israeli forces have also conducted airstrikes in eastern Lebanon, hitting the towns of Yohmar and Sahmar in the Bekaa Valley, Al Jazeera Arabic reports.

The outlet said bridges linking Sahmar with Mashghara were also bombed, as Israel expands its operations in southern Lebanon.

Separately, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that an Israeli drone strike killed at least two people after a motorbike was targeted on the northern outskirts of Tyre.

The Israeli military claims that it struck key infrastructure sites across Tehran in a wave of air raids overnight.

The targets reportedly included Iranian air defense positions – among them an IRGC site storing anti-aircraft missiles – as well as weapons production and research facilities.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei has shared a video showing emergency crews rescuing an eight-year-old Afghan child from the rubble of a home hit by US-Israeli missiles.

“During the 35-day military aggression by America and the Zionist regime against Iran, a number of Afghan citizens living in Iran – who are in fact our esteemed guests – have also been killed or injured,” he wrote on X.

Footage posted online by Fars News Agency purportedly shows Iraq firing advanced Al-Arqab cruise missiles at US bases in the region.

A fire has broken out at an oil storage facility used by foreign companies west of Basra, Iraq following a drone strike, Reuters reports, citing security sources.

Unconfirmed videos circulating online show a massive blaze, with thick plumes of smoke rising from the site.

Another unconfirmed video circulating online purportedly shows the moment Israeli airstrikes hit an area near Mount Tochal and Darband in northern Tehran.

Strikes have been reported across the capital, with footage showing explosions and smoke rising over the city.

Footage posted online by Israel’s Yediot News purportedly shows heavy overnight bombardment targeting alleged IRGC facilities in Tehran.

Iran has issued a warning to the US and its regional allies following recent threats by Donald Trump, cautioning that any further targeting of Iranian infrastructure would trigger a “devastating” response.

Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari said Iran would strike US and Israeli assets, as well as key infrastructure in countries hosting American military bases, if Washington follows through on threats to attack bridges, power plants, and energy facilities.

He warned that Iran’s armed forces would target “more important and extensive sectors” of US and Israeli interests, including fuel, energy, and economic centers across the region, describing the potential response as “more severe and crushing than ever before.” 

It also issued an ultimatum to regional states hosting US forces, urging them to push for a withdrawal or face consequences.

Efforts by regional mediators to broker a ceasefire between the US and Iran have stalled, with talks reaching a dead end after Tehran rejected proposals and declined to meet US officials in Islamabad, according to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal.

The mediation push, led by Pakistan with support from Turkey and Egypt, has been hampered by what Iran described as unacceptable US demands, while alternative venues such as Doha and Istanbul are now being considered in an attempt to revive negotiations.

The impasse comes as competing narratives persist, with Washington claiming Iran sought a ceasefire — an assertion Tehran has rejected as “false and baseless” — while reports suggest the US may condition any agreement on steps such as reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, for its part, is reported to be seeking reparations, a US military withdrawal from the region, and guarantees against future attacks.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has issued what appeared to be a warning over risks to another key maritime chokepoint — the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Though less central than Hormuz, it remains a key trade artery, carrying roughly 5% of global oil flows and forming part of the Suez Canal route that handles about 12% of world seaborne trade.

In a post on X, Ghalibaf pointed to the volume of critical commodities passing through the route, asking what share of global oil, LNG, wheat, rice and fertilizer shipments move via the Bab el-Mandeb, and which countries and companies rely on it most.

Security concerns around the strait have intensified since Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement, entered the conflict, raising fears over potential disruption to shipping in the Red Sea corridor.

An explosion struck a building belonging to the Christian organization “Christians for Israel” in the Dutch town of Nijkerk late on Friday evening, police said, adding that no injuries were reported.

Authorities said the material damage was limited and an investigation is underway, with no suspects identified so far. The premises, which serve as an Israel center hosting a shop, prayer space and media facilities, have previously been targeted during demonstrations and incidents of vandalism.

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has accused the International Atomic Energy Agency of effectively enabling US and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, saying the watchdog’s failure to respond amounts to “clear complicity.” The official added that protest letters have been sent to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, warning that the agency’s “historic negligence” is further undermining its already diminished credibility.

Since February 28, US-Israeli strikes have targeted key elements of Iran’s nuclear program, which Tehran insists is peaceful, including the Natanz uranium enrichment facility and nuclear infrastructure in Isfahan, while projectiles have also been reported striking areas near the Bushehr nuclear power plant.

Dubai officials said debris from an aerial interception struck the exterior of an Oracle building in Dubai Internet City, adding that no injuries were reported.

The company had previously been named among a group of US firms that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned it could target in response to attacks on the country.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has released a video that it claims shows the moment a US A-10 attack aircraft was shot down.

A video posted on social media shows a new angle of US strikes on Iran’s B1 suspension bridge linking Tehran and Karaj on April 2. At least 13 people were killed in the attack, according to Iranian media.

Images posted on social media appear to show a CH-47 transport helicopter destroyed in an Iranian strike on a US base in Kuwait.

Recent US intelligence assessments indicate that Iran is unlikely to reopen the Strait of Hormuz any time soon, Reuters reported, citing three people familiar with the matter.

The findings suggest that Tehran may seek to increase its regional leverage by using its control over the vital waterway as a means of pressure on the United States.

03 April 2026

Iran fired a barrage of missiles at southern and central Israel, with Tel Aviv hit by cluster munitions.

A projectile sparked a fire at the Neot Hovav industrial zone near Beersheba in the Negev Desert, the Fire and Rescue Service said, adding that no injuries were reported.

The helicopter carrying the rescued personnel was hit by small arms fire, wounding those on board, CBS News reported, citing two US officials familiar with the matter. The helicopter landed safely, and its crew will be transported to a medical facility, the outlet added.

Asked during a brief phone call with The Independent what he would do if the missing pilot were captured or harmed by Iranians, US President Donald Trump said: “Well, I can’t comment on it because we hope that’s not going to happen.”

An image posted on social media appears to show an ejection seat from a downed US fighter jet, which US media and open-source analysts say is consistent with an F-15E Strike Eagle.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Kamal Khazzari, head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Policy, had been targeted in an assassination attempt and that his wife had been killed.

“Let the world judge: which side engages in dialogue and negotiation, and which in terrorism?” Pezeshkian wrote on X.

Iranian media reported that Khazzari was wounded in an attack on his home on Wednesday.

Iran has refused a 48-hour ceasefire offer from the US, the Fars news agency has reported, citing an anonymous source.

The offer came on Wednesday via a third country, it said, adding that rather that replying in writing, the Islamic Republic responded with continued attacks.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that efforts to secure a US-Iranian ceasefire via regional countries, including Pakistan, have “reached a dead end.” Tehran has declared that it would not send negotiators to Islamabad for talks with Washington’s diplomats in the coming days, and that it considers US demands unacceptable, the WSJ said.

Trump has posted a short message on Truth Social, simply asking: “KEEP THE OIL, ANYONE?”

Earlier, he claimed the US could “easily” reopen the Strait of Hormuz, “take the oil and make a fortune.”

One person has died as a result of drone debris falling at the UAE’s largest gas processing hub, while four people sustained injuries, the Abu Dhabi Media Office has said in a statement.

Parts of a drone fell at the Habshan gas facilities following an air defense interception, setting two fires and causing “significant damage,” it said.

Operations at the sprawling complex have been suspended in the meantime, the media office said in an earlier statement.

When asked by NBC News if the downing of the US jet would affect potential negotiations with Iran, Trump replied: “No, not at all.”

“No, it’s war. We’re in war,” he told NBC in a brief phone interview.

Unverified footage shows Iranians shooting at two US helicopters searching for the downed F-15E crew.

According to CBS, Iranian small arms fire hit at least one of the helicopters, wounding crew members aboard.

A vessel is burning in the Persian Gulf off the Strait of Hormuz, according to unverified footage circulating online.

An unconfirmed report claims the ship is a fishing vessel.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations Center, which monitors activity in the area, has reported no incidents in the past 24 hours. 

Unverified footage from southern Iran shows two US helicopters carrying out search operations for the crew of the US jet downed by Iranian forces earlier in the day.

One Black Hawk helicopter sustained damage during the operation, but was able to leave Iranian territory without further incident, Newsmax has reported, citing anonymous sources.

The Iran conflict spells the end of Washington’s “empire,” US journalist Tucker Carlson has said.

“What’s happening in Iran is the end of American empire as we understand it,” he said.

“It’s not the end of the United States. It’s not the end of our influence on other nations… It’s not the end of our economy. It’s the beginning of a very rough time in our economy, of course.”

A US A-10 Warthog attack plane crashed near the Strait of Hormuz after sustaining fire over Iran, the New York Times has reported, citing anonymous American officials. The pilot has been rescued, the outlet added.

The plane was hit around the same time as the downed American F-15, according to the NYT.

Israel has postponed planned strikes on Iran so as not to interfere with US search and rescue operations for two crew members of a fighter jet downed over the Islamic Republic, CNN has reported, citing an Israeli official.

Three members of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have been injured in the south of the country, a UN spokesman has said.

Two of the peacekeepers were seriously wounded, and all have been evacuated to a hospital, UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel has said. “We do not yet know the origin of the explosion.”

At least three Indonesian UNIFIL peacekeepers have been killed in southern Lebanon in the past week, following Israeli strikes. Jakarta has called for an inquiry.

“We demand a direct investigation from the UN, not just Israel’s excuses,” Indonesia’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Umar Hadi, has said.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has mocked the reported downing of the US fighter jet in Iran.

”After defeating Iran 37 times in a row, this brilliant no-strategy war they started has now been downgraded from ‘regime change’ to ‘Hey! Can anyone find our pilots? Please?🥺,’” he wrote on X. “What incredible progress.”

Israeli broadcasters have released footage of interceptions of Iranian missiles over northern Israel.

Iranians living in a southwestern Iranian province have organized search parties for the downed US jet crew, according to footage shared by the Tasnim news agency.

The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation said that no staff were injured in the Iranian drone strikes on its Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery.

No adverse impact on air quality due to the resulting fires has been detected, it added.

Unconfirmed footage on social media purports to show smoke and fire coming from Kuwait’s Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery. 

The Israeli military has detected a new launch of missiles from Iran, the IDF has said in a statement.

The IRGC has claimed that it had struck an Israeli troop concentration and combat support centers in Western Galilee, Haifa, and other areas of Israel.

Iran has claimed to have downed another US F-35 latest generation fighter jet.

Part of the alleged wreckage posted by Iranian state broadcaster IRIB sports markings that match those used by the US Air Forces in Europe.

One crew member from the downed F-15E jet has been rescued, CBS News has reported, citing two US officials.

The jet has a crew of two. Search and rescue operations are reportedly continuing.

Unverified footage from Iran purports to show a US HC-130J plane with two helicopters conducting search operations for downed American pilots.