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By Ellie Cook, Daniel Orton, Hollie Silverman, and Peter Aitken
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President Donald Trump has warned of U.S. strikes on key Iranian infrastructure on Tuesday if Tehran continues to resist U.S. pressure to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane.
"Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran," Trump said in a post to his Truth Social platform on Sunday. "There will be nothing like it!!!"
Trump has previously threatened to bring "all Hell" down on Tehran if Iranian officials don't allow normal traffic to flow through the Strait of Hormuz, which typically sees about a fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies. Tehran has hit back with similar language, insisting in response that the "doors of hell will be opened" to the U.S. if the country's infrastructure is targeted.
Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz for more than a month, sending global markets into chaos and oil prices rocketing as concerns deepen over fuel supplies.
The President has told Iran's leadership ships must be able to travel safely through the waterway by Monday, a stark ultimatum as talks the White House had previously described in optimistic terms yielded no concrete results.
What To Know
- Iran homed in on petroleum and petrochemical plants in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait on Sunday, sparking fires.
- Trump has lauded the rescue of a second U.S. aviator from Iran after an F-15E fighter jet crashed in the country on Friday as a tremendous success, and "one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History."
- Iranian state media, meanwhile, said two U.S. Blackhawk helicopters and two transport aircraft were destroyed in the mission.
- U.S. media reported American forces had to blow up two transport aircraft in Iran during the operation.
- Iran launched fresh attacks on Israel on Sunday, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the country had carried out strikes on more than 120 air defense and missile systems in Iran over the past day.
- The IDF targeted Iran-backed Shia militant group Hezbollah in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut, on Sunday. Images show extensive damage to an area of southern Beirut near a hospital in the aftermath of the strikes.
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Apr 05, 2026 at 08:27 PM EDT
Netanyahu Praises Trump For ‘Bold’ Rescue of Pilot in Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a post on X revealed that he spoke with President Donald Trump and "personally congratulated him on his bold decision and a perfectly executed American mission to rescue the downed pilot from enemy territory."
"The President expressed his appreciation for Israel's help," Netanyahu said. "I am deeply proud that our cooperation on an off the battlefield is unprecedented, and that Israel could contribute to saving a brave American warrior."
Apr 05, 2026 at 08:03 PM EDT
Official with Lebanese Christian party killed in Israeli strike
Pierre Mouawad, an official with the Lebanese Forces party, was killed along with his wife in an Israeli strike Sunday on an apartment building in the village of Ain Saadeh in the mountains east of Beirut, the state-run National News Agency reported.
Another woman was killed and three women were wounded, Lebanon’s health ministry said.
The Israeli military has made no statement about the strike, and its intended target remains unclear.
The Lebanese Forces party is opposed to Hezbollah and has blamed the Shiite militant group for dragging Lebanon into a new war with Israel.
Israeli strikes in Christian-majority areas have led to sectarian tensions, with local residents fearing that Hezbollah members may be hiding among displaced Shiite civilians taking refuge there.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
Apr 05, 2026 at 07:29 PM EDT
Trump’s Threat to Strike Iran Energy Sends Oil Prices Higher
Oil prices continued to climb following President Donald Trump's expletive-laden message on Sunday in which he threatened to bomb Iranian energy infrastructure if Tehran didn't open the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday.
Brent crude rose 1.4 percent to $110.60 a barrel, while U.S. crude rose 1.8 percent to $113.60 a barrel on Sunday, according to CNN.
A senior Iranian official responded to Trump's threats by promising that the strait will remain closed until the Iran is "fully compensated" for war damages.
Apr 05, 2026 at 07:00 PM EDT
Bahrain’s foreign minister urges action on Strait of Hormuz
Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani wrote in a statement Sunday that Iran’s weekslong chokehold on the critical waterway has created an “escalating crisis that threatens global stability, food security, and the foundational principles of international law," the Associated Press reported.
He urged action by the United Nations Security Council on a Bahrain draft proposal, which has faced crucial opposition from Russia, China and France over several issues, including language authorizing the use of force to open the strait. All three countries wield veto power over any resolution in the 15-member council.
The vote on the heavily revised and watered-down draft was scheduled to take place last week, but has been postponed due to lack of consensus.
Al-Zayani noted that the “window of opportunity is narrowing day by day” and failure by the international community to act “sends a dangerous message that vital arteries of the global economy can be threatened without consequence.”
Apr 05, 2026 at 06:30 PM EDT
Doctors Without Borders condemns Israeli strike in Beirut neighborhood
The international aid group, known by its French acronym MSF, said the strike in Beirut’s Jnah neighborhood on Sunday hit “a densely populated residential area … only meters from Rafik Hariri Public Hospital," the Associated Press reported.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said the strike, which came without a warning, killed five people, including a 15-year-old girl, and 52 wounded, including eight children.
“We are seeing elderly people and adolescents arriving with critical injuries to the head, chest, and abdomen, including shrapnel wounds,” Luna Hammad, MSF medical coordinator working in the hospital, said in a statement. “When strikes hit crowded residential areas without warning, the consequences are severe, both in human casualties and in hospitals’ capacity to respond.”
MSF said that “strikes this close to a hospital spread fear and can stop people from seeking lifesaving care.”
The Israeli military has not named the intended target of the strike, which comes five weeks into the renewed Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon.
Apr 05, 2026 at 06:03 PM EDT
President Trump to Speak to Press in Briefing Room on Monday
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Sunday evening announced that "due to popular demand from the press" the president would address them in the White House Briefing Room on Monday at 1 p.m. ET.
She posted a screenshot of a message President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social earlier on Sunday announced that the U.S. had rescued a missing air crew member from Iran overnight Saturday.
In that message, Trump announced that he would hold a news conference in the Oval Office on Monday to discuss the matter. That will now take place in the Briefing Room.
Apr 05, 2026 at 05:30 PM EDT
Trump says Kurds kept guns meant for Iran protesters—report
Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst said Sunday that President Donald Trump told him during a phone interview the United States had sent weapons to the Kurds that were meant to make their way into the hands of Iranian protesters but never did.
"President Trump told me the United States sent guns to the Iranian protesters," Yingst related to the Fox & Friends Weekend hosts. "He tells me: 'We sent them a lot of guns. We sent them through the Kurds,' and the president says he thinks the Kurds kept them."
"He went on to say, 'We sent guns to the protesters, a lot of them,'" Yingst added.
Newsweek reached out to the White House and the Iranian foreign ministry by email outside of normal business hours on Sunday for comment.
Apr 05, 2026 at 05:00 PM EDT
Reza Pahlavi urges IRGC commanders to ‘step aside’ and prevent further destruction
Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi issued a stark warning to commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Sunday, urging them to abandon what he described as decades of “adventurism” and step away from power before Iran suffers deeper damage from the ongoing conflict.
In a message posted on X, the prince said the system of Velayat‑e Faqih — Iran’s governing doctrine under clerical rule — had been reduced to “a half‑dead corpse,” arguing that IRGC leaders now effectively control the state. He accused the force of pursuing “misguided regional policies and apocalyptic madness” that have turned Iran into the center of the current war.
He warned that Iran’s economic infrastructure, which he said the IRGC had “deliberately militarized,” is now under threat from “two powers that have been prowling Iran’s skies for weeks.” Those assets, he wrote, were built with national wealth and are essential for the country’s eventual reconstruction.
“The corrupt Islamic Republic regime is doomed,” he said, adding that IRGC leaders no longer face a choice between survival and collapse, but rather “between how to fall.” Continuing on the current path, he argued, would leave behind “a scorched land” for the Iranian people.
He urged commanders to halt their actions, protect the country’s infrastructure, and “step aside from power” to prevent further bloodshed.
“For Iran, for yourselves, for your children, abandon these adventurisms,” he wrote. “Do not make Iran any bloodier and more wounded than this.”
The comments come as Iran faces mounting internal and external pressure amid escalating regional conflict and growing uncertainty about the country’s political future.
Apr 05, 2026 at 04:30 PM EDT
Top Iranian official warns Bab el‑Mandeb Strait could be targeted if US escalates
A senior Iranian official warned Sunday that the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait — a critical chokepoint for global trade — could become a target if the United States intensifies its military actions in the region, the Associated Press (AP) reported Sunday.
Ali Akbar Velayati, a former foreign minister and adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, said on social media that “the resistance front” could move to disrupt the waterway, through which roughly 12% of global trade typically passes.
“If the White House thinks of repeating its stupid mistakes, it will quickly realize that the flow of global energy and trade can be disrupted with a single signal,” Velayati wrote, suggesting that the strait could be closed or attacked in response to further U.S. escalation.
Iran leads the so‑called “Axis of Resistance,” a network of allied armed groups in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen. In Yemen, Houthi forces have previously halted or threatened transit through Bab el‑Mandeb by attacking commercial vessels.
Velayati’s comments come amid rising tensions across multiple maritime corridors, including the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran and the United States remain locked in a standoff over access and security
Apr 05, 2026 at 04:00 PM EDT
OPEC nations agree to adjust oil production: what to know
With gas prices climbing across much of the world and the Iran war continuing to disrupt global energy flows, the eight countries who are a part of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) met on Sunday to implement a new round of voluntary oil‑production adjustments, reaffirming their commitment to stabilizing global energy markets.
On February 28, the United States and Israel targeted key military targets in Iran and killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other government leaders. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones targeting Israel and several Gulf Arab states that host U.S. armed forces as well as effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway linking the Persian Gulf to global shipping lanes, is one of the world’s most critical chokepoints for energy supplies. Roughly one‑fifth of global oil shipments pass through the strait, and any prolonged disruption could have major consequences for global markets.
The blockade has already driven up oil prices and domestic pump costs, raising fears that alongside disruption to other shipments—this could soon give way to an economy-wide inflation surge.
Apr 05, 2026 at 03:30 PM EDT
CAIR reacts to Trump Easter Sunday message: ‘deranged mocking of Islam’
The Council on American‑Islamic Relations (CAIR) called on Congress to immediately reconvene and vote to end the war with Iran after President Donald Trump posted an Easter morning message that the group said mocked Islam and threatened new attacks on Iranian civilian infrastructure.
In a Truth Social post Sunday, Trump wrote: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F—in’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
CAIR, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, said the message amounted to both religious mockery and an announcement of potential war crimes.
“President Trump’s deranged mocking of Islam and his threats to attack civilian infrastructure in Iran are reckless, dangerous, and indicative of a mindset that shows indifference to human life and contempt for religious beliefs,” the group said in a statement.
CAIR argued that Trump’s language fits into what it described as a long pattern of anti‑Muslim rhetoric and policies. The organization said the president’s use of the phrase “Praise be to Allah” in the context of violent threats reflected “a disturbing willingness to weaponize religious language while simultaneously denigrating Islam and its followers.”
The group urged lawmakers to cut short their recess and reassert congressional authority over matters of war, saying Congress “must not remain on vacation while the President openly promises to commit war crimes that could trigger even more regional and global conflict.”
Last week, CAIR criticized Trump for saying he would bomb Iran “back to the stone ages,” calling the remark “anti‑Muslim, racist, and dehumanizing.”
Apr 05, 2026 at 03:00 PM EDT
Iran Leader warns US actions are pushing region toward ‘living hell’
The speaker of Iran’s parliament accused the U.S. of dragging the Middle East toward wider conflict, warning that American families would also feel the consequences if Washington continues its current course.
In a two‑part message posted on X Sunday, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said U.S. leaders were “dragging the United States into a living HELL for every single family,” claiming the region was at risk of “burning” because Washington was “following Netanyahu’s commands.”
“Make no mistake: You won’t gain anything through war crimes,” Ghalibaf wrote.
He added that the only viable path forward was for the U.S. to “respect the rights of the Iranian people” and end what he called a “dangerous game,” signaling Tehran’s continued insistence that Washington change its approach to the crisis.
Ghalibaf’s comments come as tensions between the U.S. and Iran continue to escalate over the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the threat of further military action.
Apr 05, 2026 at 02:30 PM EDT
Satellite firm says U.S. asked it to halt release of Mideast imagery
Planet Labs, one of the world’s leading providers of commercial satellite imagery, says the U.S. government has asked it to stop publishing new photos from parts of the Middle East because of the ongoing Iran war, according to a report from the Associated Press (AP).
The company’s near‑daily images have become an essential tool for reporting on the conflict, especially in areas where journalists have limited or no access. The war has affected nearly every country in the region, making satellite data a critical source of independent verification.
In an email sent Saturday to users, including the AP, Planet Labs said it is complying with the U.S. request and will “indefinitely delay” the release of imagery captured after March 9, 2026. The company said new images would be shared only “on a case‑by‑case basis and for urgent, mission‑critical requirements or in the public interest.”
Planet Labs said the restrictions will remain in place until the conflict ends
Apr 05, 2026 at 02:00 PM EDT
Greene denounces Trump’s Iran strategy, warns against escalation
Former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene issued a sharply worded Easter message Sunday accusing President Donald Trump and his administration of driving the U.S. into an unnecessary war with Iran, urging Christian officials in the government to “pursue peace” instead of supporting military escalation.
In a post on X, Greene said members of the administration who identify as Christian should “beg forgiveness from God” and intervene in what she described as the president’s “madness.” She argued that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz stems from what she called an “unprovoked war” initiated by the United States and Israel, criticizing long‑standing claims about Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Greene said Israel possesses nuclear weapons and is capable of defending itself without U.S. military involvement, adding that Trump’s threats to strike Iranian infrastructure would harm civilians. “This is hurting people,” she wrote, saying such actions contradict Christian teachings about forgiveness and peace, especially on Easter.
She also questioned the administration’s alignment with the promises made to voters in 2024, calling the current trajectory “evil” and not reflective of the “Make America Great Again” agenda.
Her comments come as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz continue to rise, with U.S. officials warning Iran to reopen the waterway or face potential military consequences.
Apr 05, 2026 at 01:30 PM EDT
Israel says Senior IRGC Oil official killed in targeted strike
Israel’s military said Sunday it had killed Mohammad Reza Ashrafi Kahi, a senior Iranian official who oversaw commercial operations for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Oil Headquarters in Tehran.
In a statement post on X, the Israel Defense Forces described Ashrafi as the IRGC Oil Headquarters’ head of commerce, responsible for managing what it estimated to be billions of dollars in annual activity. The military said those revenues were used to advance the IRGC’s military capabilities and support allied groups including the Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.
Israel did not provide details about the location or timing of the strike, and Iranian authorities have not yet publicly commented on the claim.
The announcement comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, with both sides trading accusations over regional attacks and covert operations.
Apr 05, 2026 at 01:00 PM EDT
What we know about the operation that rescued the missing US Airman
A missing U.S. airman was rescued from inside Iran on Saturday after a high‑risk operation carried out deep behind enemy lines, following the downing of an American F‑15E Strike Eagle during the ongoing Iran war.
President Donald Trump confirmed the rescue early Sunday in posts on Truth Social, writing “WE GOT HIM!” and describing the mission as “one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History.”
Trump said the airman—a weapons systems officer—spent more than 24 hours evading capture in Iran’s mountainous terrain. In his post, Trump wrote the officer was “behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour.”
Apr 05, 2026 at 12:30 PM EDT
Iran: Trump’s threats to strike infrastructure ‘intent to commit war crime’
Iran’s mission to the United Nations accused President Donald Trump on Sunday of openly threatening actions that would amount to war crimes, hours after he posted an expletive‑filled warning that Iran would be “living in Hell” over the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
In a statement on X, Tehran’s U.N. mission said Trump’s threats to target civilian infrastructure constituted “a direct and public incitement to terrorise civilians and clear evidence of intent to commit war crime.”
“The international community and all States have legal obligations to prevent such atrocious acts of war crimes,” the mission said. “They must act now. Tomorrow is too late.”
The comments come amid escalating tensions over the strategic waterway, where Iran and the United States have traded increasingly severe warnings as the regional conflict deepens.
Apr 05, 2026 at 12:00 PM EDT
Oman, Iran discuss options to keep Strait of Hormuz traffic flowing
Oman’s Foreign Ministry said Saturday that senior officials from Muscat and Tehran met to review possible measures to ensure the continued flow of transit through the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened regional tensions.
The talks, held on April 4 at the deputy‑minister level and attended by technical experts from both sides, focused on “possible options” to maintain safe and uninterrupted passage through the strategic waterway, the ministry said in a post on X Sunday.
According to the statement, specialists from Oman and Iran presented a series of proposals and “visions” aimed at stabilizing maritime movement. Those ideas will now be studied further.
The meeting comes as the region faces mounting uncertainty over shipping security in one of the world’s most critical chokepoints for global oil and gas flows.
Apr 05, 2026 at 11:30 AM EDT
Graham: Trump ‘deadly serious’ about ultimatum to Iran over Strait of Hormuz
Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said Sunday that President Donald Trump remains firmly committed to restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that Iran faces the prospect of a “massive military response” if it does not reopen the strategic waterway.
In a statement posted on X, Graham said Trump is “deadly serious” about his ultimatum to Tehran, which the administration has framed as essential to protecting global shipping and regional stability. He added that U.S. action could target “vital infrastructure” if Iran refuses to comply.
Graham said he still hopes the crisis can be resolved diplomatically, including securing enriched uranium and reopening the strait without military escalation. But he cautioned that “the window on diplomacy is closing,” calling that “an understatement.”
“To Iran, choose wisely and choose quickly,” he wrote.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow chokepoint through which a significant share of the world’s oil supply passes, has become the focal point of rising tensions as Washington and Tehran trade warnings over maritime access.
Apr 05, 2026 at 11:00 AM EDT
CENTCOM releases video showing U.S. strikes on Iranian attack drones
U.S. Central Command on Sunday released video footage of American forces carrying out strikes on what it described as attack drones operated by Iran, saying the systems were being used to threaten U.S. personnel and target civilians across the region.
In a brief statement accompanying the footage, CENTCOM said the drones were part of Iran’s expanding network of unmanned systems that have been deployed against Americans and “indiscriminately” against neighboring countries. The command did not specify the location of the strikes or provide additional operational details.
The video shows precision strikes on multiple drone platforms, though CENTCOM did not identify how many were destroyed or whether further operations are planned.
The release comes amid heightened tensions surrounding Iran’s regional activities and ongoing concerns about the security of U.S. forces stationed in the Middle East.
Apr 05, 2026 at 10:30 AM EDT
Trump uses profanity in new threat demanding Iran reopen Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump issued a profanity‑laced threat toward Iran, warning of devastating consequences unless Tehran reopens the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, as tensions between the two countries continue to escalate amid the ongoing conflict.
In a post on his Truth Social platform Sunday morning, Trump suggested Iran would face attacks on key infrastructure and bridges if it did not comply, writing: “Open the F*****’ Strait you crazy b*******, or you’ll be living in Hell—JUST WATCH!”
The statement, which also included a reference to Islamic religious language, marked one of Trump’s most explicit public threats yet and comes as the U.S. military remains on heightened alert following the rescue of two airmen whose plane was shot down over Iran on Friday.
Apr 05, 2026 at 09:51 AM EDT
Netanyahu praises Trump after U.S. rescues downed American pilot
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday congratulated President Donald Trump for what he called a “remarkable” U.S. operation that rescued an American pilot, saying Israelis “rejoice” in the mission’s success.
In a message posted on X, Netanyahu said the rescue demonstrated that “when free societies act with courage and determination, they can overcome the forces of darkness and terror.” He framed the operation as proof of a core military principle: “no one is left behind.”
Netanyahu also drew a personal connection, noting that he was wounded during a similar mission and lost his brother, Yonatan Netanyahu, during Israel’s 1976 Entebbe rescue operation. “I know what a bold decision this was,” he wrote.
Calling Trump a “dear friend,” Netanyahu said the president’s leadership “brought a great victory to America,” adding, “I salute you. We all do.”
U.S. officials have not yet released additional details about the rescue or the condition of the pilot.
Apr 05, 2026 at 08:58 AM EDT
Trump announces new briefing, threatens strikes on Iran
In separate statements posted to his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump leveled new, expletive-laden threats at Tehran and teased a news conference at the White House on Monday afternoon.
"Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!," Trump said. He then goes on to order Iran to re-open the Strait of Hormuz — the vital shipping lane Iran has effectively closed off for more than a month, wreaking havoc with global fuel prices — or face "living in Hell."
In another message, Trump announced he would hold a press conference alongside U.S. military officials at the Oval Office on Monday at 1 p.m. ET.
Apr 05, 2026 at 08:03 AM EDT
Iran state imagery shows site near Isfahan: Analysis
The BBC has verified the location of some of the images published by Iranian state media on Sunday, purporting to show the wreckage of U.S. military aircraft in a remote part of Iran.
The British broadcaster says it has matched the background visible in some of the images to an area roughly 50 kilometers — just over 30 miles — from the central Iranian city of Isfahan. Newsweek could not independently verify these findings.
To recap: Iran’s military claimed earlier today it had shot down two Blackhawk helicopters and two American transport aircraft while U.S. special forces attempted to rescue a second stranded American crew member from an F-15E fighter jet crash on Friday.
President Donald Trump has hailed the operation as a stunning success and said no U.S. personnel were injured or killed, but has not mentioned any equipment losses.
Several U.S. media outlets have reported U.S. special forces blew up two American transport aircraft on the ground in Iran after what appears in this initial stage to be a technical malfunction.
Apr 05, 2026 at 07:41 AM EDT
Kuwaiti petroleum and petrochemical facilities targeted
The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation has said several of its petroleum and petrochemical sites have sustained "significant" damage as fires broke out following an Iranian drone attack.
No one was injured, the company said.
Blazes broke out at a petrochemical plant in Bahrain following an Iranian attack on Sunday, while debris from an intercepted Iranian strike caused "multiple fires" at a petrochemicals plant west of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Apr 05, 2026 at 07:03 AM EDT
Israeli emergency services head to southern ‘impact’ site
The IDF has said emergency services are en route to a site in southern Israel after Iranian state media reported fresh attacks by Tehran on the south of the country.
Iran's IRIB news agency shared an image it said showed smoke billowing up from a site in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba after a missile attack. Newsweek could not independently verify this image.
Apr 05, 2026 at 06:39 AM EDT
Iranian official claims Trump ‘sought to restore America’s lost prestige’ in rescue mission
Saeed Jalili, a senior Iranian official known for his previous involvement in nuclear talks and his hardline stance, has claimed the U.S. "lost" multiple aircraft in Iran while attempting to recover "prestige" damaged by the downing of an F-15E fighter jet on Friday.
"The U.S. President sought to restore America’s lost prestige after the destruction of his fighter jet; but in doing so, he also lost several aircraft, helicopters, and his forces," Jalili said in a post to social media on Sunday.
As a reminder, President Donald Trump has said no U.S. personnel were injured nor killed in an audacious rescue mission to retrieve a second aviator stranded in Iran after the F-15E went down over the country. The aircraft's pilot had already been rescued.
Trump made no mention of any damage to American aircraft, but several U.S. media reports indicated U.S. special forces had blown up two American transport aircraft on the ground in Iran after what appears in this initial stage to be a technical malfunction.
As per our previous post, Iranian state media has shared images purporting to show the wreckage of multiple American helicopters and transport aircraft south of the central city of Isfahan. The photographs show the smoking remains of damaged equipment, but Newsweek could not verify when nor where these images were captured, and it is not possible to confirm whether they show American aircraft.
Apr 05, 2026 at 06:20 AM EDT
Iran state media shares images claiming to show wrecked US aircraft
Iran's IRNA state news agency has published a series of images it claims shows the wreckage of U.S. military aircraft from the mission to rescue the second American aviator south of the city of Isfahan in the last few hours.
Black smoke can be seen twisting up from the charred remains of equipment in what appears to be a vast deserted area, although Newsweek could not independently verify whether the photographs show American aircraft, nor when they were taken.
Apr 05, 2026 at 06:08 AM EDT
Two US aircraft reportedly blown up on the ground in Iran
Two aircraft belonging to U.S. special operations forces were "blown up on the ground" during the rescue mission to retrieve the second stranded U.S. aviator, the Wall Street Journal is now reporting.
The newspaper is citing an unnamed person familiar with the weekend's mission, saying it was necessary to destroy two MC-130Js. The Associated Press is also reporting the U.S. military blew up two transport planes due to a technical malfunction during the mission.
Newsweek could not independently verify these reports.
MC-130Js are aircraft used by U.S. special forces to slip behind enemy lines and pull troops out of an area.
Apr 05, 2026 at 05:54 AM EDT
Iran military claims to have shot down 4 American aircraft
We're now seeing an updated statement from Iran's military, claiming two American C-130 transport aircraft and two Blackhawk helicopters were "destroyed by the intense fire" from Iranian troops during the overnight mission to rescue a second U.S. crew member stranded in Iran.
This new claim has been carried by Iran's IRNA state news agency comes after President Donald Trump lauded "one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History," rescuing a U.S. colonel who had been in Iran since an American F-15E crashed in the country on Friday. The aircraft's pilot had already been rescued.
Trump said no American was killed nor wounded in the mission, and made no mention of aircraft losses. U.S. forces in the Middle East have not yet commented but have repeatedly accused Tehran of lying about shooting down American aircraft.
A spokesperson for the Iranian armed forces had previously claimed on Sunday two helicopters and one C-130 were destroyed in the last few hours.
Apr 05, 2026 at 05:38 AM EDT
Israel says it is striking Hezbollah targets in Beirut
The Israeli military has just said it has started striking sites linked to Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.
The IDF has not yet provided additional details.
Just ahead of the IDF's statement, the Israeli military's Arabic-language spokesperson had issued an "urgent warning" for residents in Beirut's southern suburbs to move away from a building Israel described as a Hezbollah facility.
The southern parts of the Lebanese capital are traditional Hezbollah strongholds.
Israel has been attacking Beirut and swathes of southern Lebanon for more than a month after Hezbollah launched rockets and drones into Israel on March 1, widening the war between Israel, the U.S. and Iran that kicked off on February 28.
Apr 05, 2026 at 05:13 AM EDT
Israel attacks Iranian air defenses and missile systems
Israel's military has said it struck more than 120 air defense and missile systems in Iran over the past 24 hours.
The Israeli air force attacked sites in central and western Iran over the last day, including drone production facilities, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Sunday.
Apr 05, 2026 at 04:55 AM EDT
Saudi Arabia reports Iranian cruise missile attack
Saudi Arabia's defense ministry said on Sunday the country's air defenses had intercepted an Iranian cruise missile attack on the country.
The Saudi government did not provide additional details.
Apr 05, 2026 at 04:38 AM EDT
Fires break out at Emirati petrochemicals plant
Debris from an intercepted Iranian attack has caused "multiple fires" at a petrochemicals plant west of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), city authorities said on Sunday.
No one was reported injured but "operations at the facility have been immediately suspended while damage is assessed," Abu Dhabi's media office said in a statement.
The UAE's defense ministry had said in the early hours of Sunday Iran had targeted the Gulf state with ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones.
Apr 05, 2026 at 04:23 AM EDT
Iran drones attack Bahrain petrochemical plant
Iranian drones attacked a petrochemical plant in Bahrain, sparking fires that were quickly extinguished, according to a statement carried by the country's official news agency on Sunday.
No one was hurt and investigators are on the ground at the site to determine the extent of the damage, the Bahrain-headquartered Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC) said.
Apr 05, 2026 at 04:14 AM EDT
Trump’s statement on rescue of second US airman
Trump started his late-night announcement that a second U.S. crew member who was aboard the F-15E when it crashed in Iran on Friday had been rescued with an all-caps declaration: "WE GOT HIM!"
Here's the rest of the President's statement in full:
"My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History, for one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel, and who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND! This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour, but was never truly alone because his Commander in Chief, Secretary of War, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and fellow Warfighters were monitoring his location 24 hours a day, and diligently planning for his rescue. At my direction, the U.S. Military sent dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the World, to retrieve him. He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine. This miraculous Search and Rescue Operation comes in addition to a successful rescue of another brave Pilot, yesterday, which we did not confirm, because we did not want to jeopardize our second rescue operation. This is the first time in military memory that two U.S. Pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in Enemy Territory. WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND! The fact that we were able to pull off both of these operations, without a SINGLE American killed, or even wounded, just proves once again, that we have achieved overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies. This is a moment that ALL Americans, Republican, Democrat, and everyone else, should be proud of and united around. We truly have the best, most professional, and lethal Military in the History of the World. GOD BLESS AMERICA, GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS, AND HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!"
Apr 05, 2026 at 03:53 AM EDT
Iran claims to have shot down two US helicopters, refueling plane
Iran's military has claimed to have shot down two U.S. Blackhawk helicopters and a C-130 refueling plane during the U.S. mission to rescue a second F-15 crew member stranded in Iran.
A military spokesperson claimed the three aircraft were "shot down" south of the central city of Isfahan, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. Isfahan's military and nuclear sites have been a repeated target of U.S.-Israeli strikes over the past five weeks.
The Tasnim agency is closely tied to Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a branch of the Iranian military.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has not commented specifically on the state media claim, but has previously accused the IRGC has issuing "at least half a dozen" false reports on shooting down American aircraft.
Both Blackhawk helicopters and C-130 aircraft are commonly used in search-and-rescue operations. Footage widely circulating online in recent days, which Newsweek could not independently verify, appeared to show two Blackhawks and a C-130 flying over southwestern Iran.
Trump had announced a second American airman had been rescued from Iran after a U.S. F-15E fighter jet was shot down over the country on Friday. The fighter jet's pilot was rescued on Friday.
The second U.S. crew member, described as a colonel, was found "behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour," Trump said in a post to his Truth Social platform just after midnight ET.
Trump lauded the mission as "one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History" involving dozens of aircraft, and said no American personnel had been killed nor injured.
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