Following the downing of a US fighter jet over Iran, Donald Trump has spoken out for the first time. In response to questions from NBC News regarding the impact on peace talks with Iran, the US president emphasized that the incident signifies a state of war rather than affecting negotiations.
Trump refrained from providing details on the ongoing search and rescue mission for the missing crew member, expressing discontent with media coverage due to the operation’s sensitivity. The recent downing of the F-15E Strike Eagle represents a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, marking the first time a US jet has been shot down by enemy forces.
The cost of an F-15E is estimated to be around $31 million for older models and close to $100 million for newer versions. In a related incident, a second US warplane, an A-10 Thunderbolt II, crashed in Kuwait with the pilot safely ejecting. The A-10 went down near the Persian Gulf around the same time as the F-15 incident, with limited details available on the circumstances.
According to reports, the A-10 was hit by Iranian fire while supporting rescue efforts for the downed F-15. Iranian state TV confirmed the incident, stating that the A-10 was shot down in southern Iran near the Strait of Hormuz, costing approximately $18.8 million.
Trump recently criticized allies for their lack of support in the conflict with Iran, urging them to secure their own resources and challenging the responsibility of the US to protect strategic interests like the Strait of Hormuz. The UN Security Council is expected to address the situation in the coming days.
Since the conflict’s inception with US and Israeli strikes, casualties in Iran have surpassed 1,900 deaths, with a focus on security and state targets rather than widespread urban destruction. The toll includes fatalities in Gulf states, the occupied West Bank, Israel, and Lebanon, with significant displacement and casualties reported across the region.
