F-15 fighter jet (not directly related to the article) [EPA Yonhap News]

U.S. F-15 fighter jets and A-10 attack aircraft deployed in a military operation against Iran were shot down by Iranian forces, respectively. This marks the first instance of U.S. military aircraft being shot down by enemy fire since the commencement of hostilities on February 28 (local time).

Multiple U.S. media outlets, including CBS News, reported, citing U.S. government officials, that an F-15E Strike Eagle, a U.S. military fighter jet, was shot down on the 3rd over southwestern Iran. Iranian state media reported that this was due to anti-aircraft fire from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Iranian media released photos of the wreckage of the downed fighter jet. CNN analyzed that these matched official photos of the U.S. Air Force F-15E.

There were two crew members aboard the F-15E fighter jet that was shot down. It is understood that one of them ejected during the crash. The seat of the F-15E fighter jet that landed on land was also found.

The U.S. military deployed HH-60G search and rescue helicopters and a C-130 tanker for refueling, and rescued one individual. This is presumed to be the crew member who ejected. During this operation, two helicopters were also attacked by Iranian forces, resulting in injuries to some of the crew, but they managed to return to base.

The remaining U.S. pilot aboard the F-15E is reported missing.

It is reported that the U.S. military is conducting searches for rescue, while the Iranian military is searching to secure the crew member first.

The New York Times (NYT) reported that both U.S. and Iranian forces are conducting searches. In particular, Iranian officials told the NYT that the Revolutionary Guard Corps had cordoned off the area in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province in southwestern Iran, where the pilot is presumed to have crashed.

Iranian authorities have announced through state media and other channels that a "bounty" will be offered to anyone who finds and hands over the missing individual.

The NYT also reported on social media videos appearing to show U.S. military helicopters and a C-130 engaged in a low-altitude flight over southwestern Iran, seemingly on a rescue mission, and other videos showing Iranians firing at the low-flying helicopters.

Additionally, a U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthog attack aircraft was shot down on the same day off the southern tip of Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz in Iran, and the aircraft fell into the sea, according to U.S. media outlets including CNN.

Multiple U.S. officials confirmed the downing of the A-10 attack aircraft to The New York Times (NYT) and The Washington Post (WP). The single pilot aboard is reported to have been rescued.

In relation to this, Brigadier General Ebrahim Jafarzadeh, spokesperson for the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, stated on state television that "one of the enemy's advanced aircraft was shot down off the southern tip of Qeshm Island" and "the wreckage fell into the Persian Gulf waters between Hengam Island and Qeshm Island."

U.S. Air Force A-10 attack aircraft [AFP Yonhap News. The photo is not directly related to the article]

Although the White House and the U.S. military have not yet released official statements, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told AFP that President Donald Trump had been briefed on the fighter jet shootdown.

The U.S. military had emphasized that Iran's air defense systems were largely neutralized. The successive downing of the F-15E and A-10 on this day is expected to render such claims questionable.

Earlier, an F-35, a fifth-generation stealth fighter of the U.S. military, was forced to make an emergency landing on the 19th of last month after being hit by presumed anti-aircraft fire from the Revolutionary Guard Corps.

On the 13th of last month, a KC-135 aerial refueling tanker crashed in western Iraq while on operations due to a collision with another tanker, resulting in the deaths of all six crew members. On March 2, early in the conflict, three F-15 fighter jets crashed due to friendly fire from Kuwaiti forces.

Notably, the downing of these U.S. fighter jets and attack aircraft occurred shortly after President Trump announced on the 1st that "extremely powerful blows" were to be expected over the next "two to three weeks."

While the exact missions of these military aircraft have not been confirmed, given the locations where they were shot down, they may have been engaged in operations targeting Iranian infrastructure and the areas around the Strait of Hormuz, respectively.

The NYT assessed that "the loss of fighter jets and the rescue operations have presented military and diplomatic challenges for the United States, and the difficulties will be further exacerbated if the missing American is taken captive."

Following President Trump's announcement to "return Iran to the stone age," the U.S. military destroyed a large bridge near the Iranian capital, Tehran, in an airstrike and warned that if Iran did not reach an agreement based on U.S. demands, power plants would be targeted as previously threatened.

In response to the intensified U.S. offensive, the Iranian military has also demonstrated its capacity and will to resist by shooting down U.S. fighter jets for the first time since the conflict began.

The U.S. military claimed to have destroyed most of Iran's naval and air forces and air defense systems through unilateral airstrikes since the conflict began. However, intelligence analyses reported by CNN indicate that Iran still maintains significant missile and drone launch capabilities.

The clashes between both sides are likely to intensify to secure an advantageous position in the ceasefire negotiations. Iran's state-run Fars News Agency reported that the U.S. had proposed a 48-hour ceasefire through an allied country on the 1st, but Iran rejected it.

In particular, with the grace period for attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure, including power plants, extended by President Trump twice, ending next Monday, the 6th, this weekend is expected to be a critical juncture in the war.

In a phone conversation with NBC, President Trump, when asked if the downing of the U.S. fighter jets affected negotiations with Iran, stated, "Not at all. This is war. We are at war."

Furthermore, after reports of the downing of U.S. military fighter jets surfaced, President Trump posted a cryptic sentence on his social media platform Truth Social without mentioning the shootdowns.

The post, "KEEP THE OIL, ANYONE?", has led to various interpretations from foreign media, ranging from President Trump expressing his desire for oil after the war with Iran to him suggesting to allies that they could take the oil from tankers that were unable to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and were remaining idle.

Meanwhile, the NYT reported early on the 4th, local time, citing local residents, that intense airstrikes were being carried out in Tehran, Iran. A local resident, Golshan Fathi, said, "I am hiding in the bathroom now. The airstrikes are so terrifying. We don't know what will happen to us."

Wreckage of downed U.S. F-15 [Reuters Yonhap News]