United States Air Force – War Watch

Central Intelligence Agency | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Khamenei, Mojtaba (1969- ) | Nuclear weapons | Persian Gulf | Rescues | Strait of Hormuz | Threats and Threatening Messages | Trump, Donald J | United States Air Force | United States Central Command | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States International Relations | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Trump’s Lesson From Risky Rescue: Threaten to Go Harder at Iran
ByDavid E. Sanger April 5, 2026April 6, 2026

In an expletive-laced social media post, the president said Iran should open the Strait of Hormuz or he would bomb bridges and power plants.

Read More Trump’s Lesson From Risky Rescue: Threaten to Go Harder at Iran
Central Intelligence Agency | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Rescues | Trump, Donald J | United States Air Force | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | War and Armed Conflicts

How the CIA Helped Locate a Missing Airman After Iran Downed a U.S. Fighter Jet
ByJulian E. Barnes April 5, 2026April 5, 2026

The intelligence agency also executed a deception campaign aimed at drawing Iranian forces away from where the missing Air Force officer was hiding.

Read More How the CIA Helped Locate a Missing Airman After Iran Downed a U.S. Fighter Jet
Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Military Aircraft | Military Bases and Installations | Starmer, Keir | Trump, Donald J | United States Air Force | United States Central Command | United States Defense and Military Forces | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

U.S. Fighter Jet Downed Over Iran Was Probably Based at R.A.F. Lakenheath, U.K. Airfield
ByStephen Castle April 4, 2026April 4, 2026

A military analyst identified markings consistent with a squadron based at R.A.F. Lakenheath, one of two British bases that host the largest U.S. fighter jet operation in Europe.

Read More U.S. Fighter Jet Downed Over Iran Was Probably Based at R.A.F. Lakenheath, U.K. Airfield
Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Lebanon | Military Aircraft | Rescues | Strait of Hormuz | United States Air Force | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Here’s What Happened in the War in the Middle East on Friday
ByAshley Ahn April 4, 2026April 4, 2026

An American fighter jet was shot down by Iran for the first time since the start of the war, leading to an urgent search-and-rescue operation for a missing crew member.

Read More Here’s What Happened in the War in the Middle East on Friday
Aviation Accidents, Safety and Disasters | Defense and Military Forces | Defense Department | Hegseth, Pete | International Relations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Military Aircraft | Pilots | Rescues | Strait of Hormuz | Trump, Donald J | United States | United States Air Force | United States Central Command | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States International Relations | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Iran Shoots Down U.S. Fighter Jet, Setting Off American Search and Rescue
ByEric Schmitt, Helene Cooper and Thomas Fuller April 3, 2026April 3, 2026

One crew member was rescued. The risky operation to find the second airman came as the United States and Israel struck infrastructure targets in Iran, prompting Iranian retaliation in the Gulf.

Read More Iran Shoots Down U.S. Fighter Jet, Setting Off American Search and Rescue
Defense Department | Hegseth, Pete | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Trump, Donald J | United States Air Force | United States Central Command | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | War and Armed Conflicts

Iran’s Defenses Have Been Struck, but They Can Still Fire Missiles and Drones
ByNicholas Kulish April 3, 2026April 5, 2026

Iran has sent waves of missiles and drones at Israel and Gulf states in recent weeks and shot down an American fighter jet on Friday.

Read More Iran’s Defenses Have Been Struck, but They Can Still Fire Missiles and Drones
Defense and Military Forces | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Military Aircraft | Pilots | Rescues | Trump, Donald J | United States Air Force | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

What We Know About the Rescue of a U.S. Airman After Two Jet Crashes
ByNeil Vigdor April 3, 2026April 6, 2026

An airman was rescued on Saturday night, President Trump said. The rescue came after a risky two-day operation deep inside Iran.

Read More What We Know About the Rescue of a U.S. Airman After Two Jet Crashes
Airlines and Airplanes | Aviation Accidents, Safety and Disasters | Defense and Military Forces | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Military Aircraft | United States | United States Air Force | United States Defense and Military Forces | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

The F-15E Strike Eagle: What to Know
ByPranav Baskar April 3, 2026April 3, 2026

The U.S. military aircraft with a two-person crew was shot down in Iran on Friday.

Read More The F-15E Strike Eagle: What to Know
Europe | Great Britain | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq War (2003-11) | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East | Military Aircraft | Military Bases and Installations | Polls and Public Opinion | Royal Air Force | Royal Air Force Fairford (Gloucestershire, England, Air Base) | Starmer, Keir | Trump, Donald J | United States Air Force | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States International Relations | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

As American Bombers Take Off From R.A.F. Fairford in UK, Iraq War Looms Large
ByMegan Specia March 17, 2026March 18, 2026

R.A.F. Fairford was the site of repeated antiwar protests during the Iraq war in 2003. Now it is being used again as a base for U.S. bombing missions in the Middle East.

Read More As American Bombers Take Off From R.A.F. Fairford in UK, Iraq War Looms Large
Caine, John Daniel (1968- ) | Deptula, David A | Drones (Pilotless Planes) | Hegseth, Pete | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Military Aircraft | United States | United States Air Force | United States Defense and Military Forces | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

What Does It Mean to Have Air Superiority Over Iran?
ByAdam Goldman and Eric Schmitt March 13, 2026March 14, 2026

The American and Israeli air forces have a dominant advantage in the skies, but Iran can still muster some resistance.

Read More What Does It Mean to Have Air Superiority Over Iran?