An Iranian military source has accused the United States of deliberately targeting areas in south-west Iran where a missing American pilot is believed to be located, according to Tasnim News Agency. The source claimed that US forces are striking these المناطق in an attempt to eliminate the pilot after losing hope of recovering him.
The same source stated that Iran will not disclose whether the pilot is currently in its custody, adding that Washington is withholding key details about the fate of the first pilot involved. These claims deepen uncertainty surrounding the incident and raise serious questions about the true circumstances on the ground.
Trump Responds as Military Tensions Escalate
On Saturday, US President Donald Trump said he was not yet prepared to reveal what action the United States would take if the missing pilot were harmed, according to remarks reported by The Independent. In a phone interview with NBC, Trump emphasised that Iran’s downing of American warplanes would not impact any potential negotiations with Tehran.
He described the strikes on Iran as a “precise and complex military operation”, while expressing dissatisfaction with how some domestic media outlets have covered the situation. Trump reiterated that the loss of aircraft would not influence diplomatic tracks, stating clearly: “No, it will not affect it at all. This is war. We are at war.”
Conflicting Reports Over Downed Aircraft and Pilot Fate
The US military confirmed on Friday that an F-15 fighter jet had been shot down over Iran, according to the Associated Press. American officials reported that one pilot had been located and rescued, while efforts continue to search for the second pilot.
The White House also confirmed that the president had been briefed on the downing of the aircraft. Earlier that same day, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced it had shot down a second American warplane over central Iran using air defence systems.
On Thursday evening, the Revolutionary Guard had already declared that it targeted a “hostile aircraft” south of Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz, causing it to crash into the waters of the Gulf. These developments point to a rapidly escalating military confrontation, accompanied by conflicting narratives and growing ambiguity over the fate of those involved.
