Trending Now - US Jets Downed in Iran Conflict Mark First Enemy Fire Loss in Two Decades

WHO:

AP News - President Trump asserted that Iran has been “completely decimated.”

AP News - Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Houston Cantwell, a former F-16 fighter pilot, commented on the situation.

AP News - Behnam Ben Taleblu, Iran program senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, provided insights on the conflict.

AP News - Mark Cancian, a retired Marine colonel and senior defense adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, shared his perspective.

WHAT:

AP News - Iran shot down two American military jets, marking the first time U.S. jets have been downed by enemy fire in over 20 years.

AP News - A U.S. F15-E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down, with one service member rescued and a search ongoing for a second.

AP News - A U.S. A-10 attack aircraft crashed after being hit by Iranian defense forces.

AP News - U.S. Central Command reported that American forces have flown more than 13,000 missions in the Iran war and struck over 12,300 targets.

WHERE:

AP News - The incidents occurred in Iran.

WHEN:

AP News - The jets were shot down on Friday, March 31st, 2026.

AP News - The last U.S. jet shot down in combat prior to this incident was on April 8th, 2003.

WHY:

AP News - The attacks demonstrate Iran's continued ability to retaliate despite U.S. assertions of its military degradation.

AP News - Experts suggest that the use of shoulder-fired missiles reflects Iran's capability to engage despite being perceived as weakened.

HOW:

AP News - U.S. planes have been flying missions at lower altitudes, making them more vulnerable to missile attacks.

AP News - Experts believe that a portable, shoulder-fired missile was likely used against the F-15 fighter jet.

(UPDATED April 4, 2026 23:04 UTC)

President Trump stated that Iran has been “completely decimated” following a significant escalation in conflict, where Iranian forces shot down two American military jets on Tuesday, marking the first time U.S. jets have been downed by enemy fire in over 20 years. A U.S. F-15 Strike Eagle was hit, resulting in one service member being rescued while a search continues for a second, and an A-10 attack aircraft also crashed after coming under fire. Experts noted that the use of shoulder-fired missiles indicates Iran's ongoing capability to retaliate, despite U.S. claims of its military degradation, as American forces have conducted over 13,000 missions in the region.