Two American fighter jets have been shot down in Iran. One of the pilots is being searched for, while two others have been rescued. An Iranian TV announced a bounty. During the maneuvers a helicopter was hit which then disappeared from radar.
According to the WSJ, the pilot of the second jet managed to exit Iranian airspace before catapulting. For Trump, the shooting down of US fighter jets ‘will not affect negotiations’ with Iran. According to Iranian media, Tehran has rejected the American proposal for a 48-hour truce. In Lebanon, three other peacekeepers were injured.
Media, several explosions in the area north of Tehran
Several explosions were heard this morning in the area north of the Iranian capital Tehran. This was reported by some sources, including an AFP journalist and Al Jazeera Arabic journalists.
UN, Bahrain postpones vote on resolution against Iran’s grip on Hormuz
Bahrain, which holds the presidency of the United Nations Security Council this month, postponed a vote on a resolution seeking to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, now under threat of Iranian retaliation. According to US media reports, the text of the resolution had been significantly watered down due to opposition from Russia and China, but it was not enough to break the deadlock. The vote, at present, will be held next week: the draft resolution promoted by Bahrain, which was expected to be put to the vote today, would authorize defensive measures (and not offensive actions, as initially supported by the Gulf nations and the United States) in order to guarantee the safe transit of ships through the canal, through which one fifth of the world’s oil usually transits. Bahrain has solicited support from all 15 nations on the Council, but the postponement of the vote means that the draft, while amended, is still not acceptable to Russia and China, which hold permanent seats on the Council.
The southern suburbs of Beirut bombed by Israel
Beirut’s southern suburbs were bombed at least twice at dawn on Saturday, according to an AFP journalist who heard powerful explosions and saw smoke rising into the sky. At the same time, the Israeli army announced on social networks that it had “begun to strike Hezbollah’s infrastructure in Beirut”.
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WSJ, the second US fighter was also shot down by Iran
The second US warplane that crashed in the Persian Gulf on Friday was also hit by Iran. The Wall Street Journal reports it, confirming what Tehran has claimed. The pilot of the A-10 Thunderbolt, known as Warthog, is safe, while the jet was not shot down over Iranian territory, sources familiar with the matter said. The pilot of the twin-engine, single-seat attack jet managed to exit Iranian airspace before catapulting. The USA, in the meantime, continues the search for the American soldier whose plane, an F-15E, was shot down over Iran. The other person on board has already been rescued.
Pentagon, 365 soldiers injured in Operation Epic Fury
365 American soldiers have been injured since the start of Operation Epic Fury, almost five weeks ago: the Pentagon reports this by providing an update on the situation as of Friday, which includes the already known total of 13 deaths. Of those wounded in action, the majority are the 247 Army soldiers. Then there are the 63 Navy soldiers, 19 Marines and 36 Air Force airmen.