Summary

  1. Death toll from strikes on Iranian bridge rises to 13published at 20:18 BST

    Ghoncheh Habibiazad
    Senior reporter, BBC Persian

    The death toll from strikes on Thursday on a bridge in Karaj - a city near Tehran in Alborz province - has risen to 13, according to Amirhossein Daneshkohan, Director General of the Alborz Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs in Iran.

    Earlier today, we reported that the death toll was eight.

    Daneshkohan said those killed were from “all walks of life”, including “municipal employees”.

    Iranian media reported that 95 people were injured when the bridge under construction was bombed.

    US President Donald Trump has warned Iran there will be strikes on its bridges and electric power plants if its leaders do not agree to his terms to end the war.

  2. Israel held off strikes where search operation under way - reportspublished at 19:54 BST

    Israel's military has delayed strikes in the area of Iran where the search for missing US fighter jet crew is under way, according to reports from CNN, AP news agency and Israel's Channel 12.

    CNN says an Israeli official told the network that strikes had been postponed in the search area, while Channel 12, citing a senior Israeli official, reported the strikes had been cancelled. AP also reported that air strikes had been halted in relevant areas due to the rescue efforts.

    AP says the Israeli official spoke to them on condition of anonymity "because the operation is ongoing".

    The Israel Defense Forces has not confirmed these reports.

  3. Iran shooting down a US aircraft was 'only a matter of time', experts saypublished at 19:32 BST

    Grace Eliza Goodwin
    US reporter

    I’ve just spoken to two military analysts, who say what’s most striking about Iran reportedly shooting down a US fighter jet is that it didn’t happen sooner.

    “It was sort of inevitable,” says Jennifer Kavanagh, a senior fellow and director of military analysis at think tank Defense Priorities.

    It was only “a matter of time before there was some incident like this”, she says.

    “We know that Iran has anti-aircraft weapons, and the idea that they had all been eliminated was quite hard to believe and likely inaccurate from the start,” she adds.

    US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that Iran’s air capabilities have been obliterated.

    James Jeffrey, a military strategy expert and fellow at think tank The Washington Institute, also says it’s “amazing” that this is the first fighter jet Iran reportedly shot down.

    But both Jeffrey and Kavanagh say that, in the grand scheme of the war, this incident matters very little.

    While it’s "a big victory" for Iran to have shot down an American jet, for the US, losing a single aircraft “isn’t going to change the operational outcome of the war,” Kavanagh says.

  4. BBC Verify

    Images appear to show debris from a US F-15E Strike Eaglepublished at 19:07 BST

    By Joshua Cheetham

    BBC Verify has spoken to an expert who confirms that debris in images widely circulating on social media has come from a US F-15E Strike Eagle.

    The piece shown are a wingtip and part of a vertical stabiliser from a plane from the US 494th Fighter Squadron based at RAF Lakenheath in the UK, according to Justin Bronk, senior research fellow for airpower and technology in the Military Sciences team at the Rusi think tank.

    A reverse image search shows the images only began to circulate on social media today.

    We cannot confirm where the images were taken as they are close-ups and there isn't a clear sign that lets us geolocate them, but we have checked them for AI and there are no signs of manipulation.

    Damage part of plane on groundImage source, X
    Image caption,

    This image is one of many shared on social media which claims to show debris from a US fighter jet

  5. The Iranian provinces where state media reports jet has been downedpublished at 18:43 BST

    Ghoncheh Habibiazad
    Senior reporter, BBC Persian

    While we don’t know exactly where the jet was downed, there are names of two provinces mentioned frequently on Iran’s state media so far - Khuzestan and Kohgiluyeh-Boyerahmad.

    BBC Verify has confirmed that a video showing what appears to be a US plane accompanied by two helicopters flying over southern Iran was recorded in Khuzestan province.

    Khuzestan is a core centre of Iran’s economy and a major powerhouse for oil and a number of other industries. The province is home to more than 4.7 million people.

    Its major steel company was recently targeted during the war and shut down as the result of strikes.

    Right next to Khuzestan is mountainous Kohgiluyeh - more than 700,000 are estimated to be living there.

    Iranian news outlets have published a video claiming to show people there “searching for the American pilot”.

    An Iranian state TV newsreader for a local channel has reported that rewards will be given to anyone who captures the pilot alive.

    A map showing the locations of Khuzestan province and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province
  6. What we know about reported downed US jet over Iranpublished at 18:14 BST

    Information is still coming in after reports that a US fighter jet has been downed over Iranian territory.

    What we know:

    • An F-15E fighter jet has reportedly been downed over southern Iran
    • One crew member from the jet has been rescued by US forces, according to the BBC's US partner CBS - an F-15E jet usually has a two-person crew
    • US President Donald Trump has been briefed on the situation, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt
    • Iranian media report that authorities have offered a reward of 10 billion tomans (about £50,000) for anyone who captures a downed US crew member alive

    What we don't yet know:

    • While one crew member has reportedly been rescued, there is no word yet on any others
    • The circumstances surrounding the downing of the jet are still unclear
    • We have not yet heard from Trump or the Pentagon
  7. Israel launches further strikes on Tehran and Beirutpublished at 17:58 BST

    As reports suggest a search and rescue operation is under way for a downed US F-15 fighter jet in southern Iran, fighting continues.

    The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says it has launched another wave of strikes in Tehran.

    In the past 24 hours, it says it has carried out "more than 70 strikes in western and central Iran targeting ballistic missile launch sites and unmanned aerial vehicles".

    In a separate update, the IDF says it has started striking parts of Beirut.

    It also reports detecting multiple barrages of missiles fired at its territory from Iran throughout the day.

  8. Footage of low-flying US planes over Iran 'consistent with rescue mission' - security analystpublished at 17:38 BST

    Footage widely shared on social media and Iranian state media showing US warplanes over Iran matches typical search and rescue mission manoeuvres, according to the BBC's US partner CBS.

    CBS national security analyst Aaron MacLean says the footage seems to show US aircraft flying at low altitudes in broad daylight over hostile territory.

    He says this is something the US would only do if it had a good reason, such as trying to rescue a downed pilot or pilots.

  9. Iranian parliament speaker mocks US over downed jetpublished at 17:18 BST

    Ghoncheh Habibiazad
    Senior reporter, BBC Persian

    Mohammad Bagher GhalibafImage source, NurPhoto via Getty Images

    Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has mocked the US on his X account after reports that an American fighter jet was shot down over Iran.

    “After defeating Iran 37 times in a row, this brilliant no-strategy war they started has now been downgraded from 'regime change' to 'Hey! Can anyone find our pilots? Please?',” a post on Ghalibaf's account says.

    Trump said on 31 March that there has been regime change in Iran, saying the new crop of Iranian leaders are "much less radicalised" and more "rational".

    Ghalibaf has also sarcastically posted, "Wow. What incredible progress. Absolute geniuses."

    His account has been very active recently, posting occasional memes, while he was last seen on state TV on 17 March.

    Some unconfirmed reports suggested the Trump administration was considering Ghalibaf as a potential partner and possibly even a future leader.

  10. Analysis

    Few answers from US on downed jet - but many questionspublished at 17:10 BST

    Bernd Debusmann Jr
    White House reporter

    We’ve had reports from anonymous officials saying a US F-15 was downed over Iran, but there’s been little public comment from either the White House or the Pentagon.

    So far, the only word from the White House is that President Trump has been briefed on the situation.

    This is likely because search and rescue efforts were still under way, making public confirmation difficult and sensitive during a delicate operation.

    We now know that one crew member has been recovered, according to CBS, the BBC’s US partner.

    Officials are expected to face questions about the circumstances of the incident.

    US officials, including Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, have repeatedly said Iran’s air defence capabilities have been destroyed in the conflict.

    A confirmed shoot-down of a fighter jet would immediately raise questions about Iran’s ability and willingness to continue the fight, and the threat it might pose to US personnel and aircraft over the country.

    Early morning light is seen on the White HouseImage source, Getty Images
  11. Analysis

    This is the first case of a US jet being downed in this war - and it matterspublished at 16:58 BST

    Ione Wells
    Foreign correspondent

    This is the first known case of a US fighter jet being shot down over Iran during this conflict. Three F-15Es were shot down by accidental "friendly fire" by Kuwaiti air defences earlier in the war.

    Why does that matter?

    Firstly, this comes after Donald Trump and his defence secretary Pete Hegseth have both repeatedly suggested that the US has effectively won this war. Hegseth and military commanders have spoken of "air superiority" and how degraded Iran’s air defences are. Trump had claimed that Iran "can’t do a thing" about US planes flying over its country.

    That rhetoric now seems over-confident. This shows that Iran still retains - albeit likely a limited and very reduced - capacity to defend its skies.

    Secondly, this comes as the US has been threatening further escalation while also talking up hopes for a deal. This could be used as fuel to accelerate that US escalation in retaliation.

    It also may increase nerves among the American public that more US service people are being impacted by this war, at a time when the Trump administration has reportedly been mulling a potential ground invasion - which would increase the risk to US personnel significantly.

  12. Trump briefed on downed US jet, White House confirmspublished at 16:53 BST
    Breaking

    US President Donald Trump has been briefed on the US fighter jet that was downed over Iran, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

    "The President has been briefed," she says.

  13. One crew member from downed US fighter jet rescued, US officials tell CBSpublished at 16:47 BST
    Breaking

    One crew member from the downed F-15 fighter jet has been rescued, two US officials have told CBS News.

    The crew member was rescued by US forces, according to the officials.

  14. BBC Verify

    Video appears to show US search and rescue operation in southern Iranpublished at 16:35 BST

    BBC Verify has confirmed a video showing what appears to be a US plane accompanied by two helicopters flying over southern Iran as a search and rescue operation is carried out for the crew of an American jet.

    We have confirmed the video was filmed in Khuzestan province, near a bridge over the Karun river, at this location: 31.591393, 50.275430.

    The video has been checked for recency and for signs of AI manipulation.

    Reports from the US, quoting unnamed officials, say a search is under way after the shooting down of a US fighter jet over Iran.

    BBC Verify is continuing to check footage said to show this operation.

    Media caption,

    Video appears to show a US plane and helicopters over southern Iran

  15. Analysis

    What to know about the F-15E jets used by the USpublished at 16:23 BST

    Chris Partridge
    BBC News weapons analyst

    Debris of a downed aircraft that originally was posted to social media show wreckage consistent with that of an F-15E Strike Eagle.

    These are dual-role fighter jets designed for both air-to-ground and air-to-air missions. In Iran, they are most likely to have been involved in Defensive Counter Air roles to shoot down Iranian drones and cruise missiles.

    In its air-to-ground strike role, the jet is a weapons platform capable of dropping laser and GPS guided precision munitions, as well as other bombs.

    The aircraft has two crew: the pilot in the front who flies the jet and a Weapons Systems Officer in the back seat. The "Wizzo" has four screens in front of them and is responsible for selecting targets and making sure the weapons are properly programmed for the appropriate attack profile.

    This two-crew system allows the workload to be divided up, particularly in a congested air environment where the pilot is trying to evade threats.

    We do not know what specifically brought down this US jet, but if it was taken down by the Iranians then the most likely reason is a surface-to-air missile (SAM).

    Short range, infra-red guided MANPADs are portable systems that remain a serious threat in Iran because they can be quickly moved around. The use of flares "popped" by targeted aircraft is the most common means of trying to defeat SAMs.

    US military commanders have often talked of air superiority over parts of Iran in this war, but this incident, if confirmed to be a shoot-down, shows how the dangers very much remain.

    Infographic about the US F‑15E Strike Eagle fighter jet with a photo of the aircraft in flight and text explaining its features: designed for long‑range missions to attack ground targets and fight its way out; has a two‑person crew of a pilot and a weapon systems officer; uses terrain‑following radar to fly safely at very low altitudes. Notes that F‑15s have been in service since 1974, with the F‑15E introduced in 1988. States an approximate cost of $100m (£75m). Source: the US Air Force.
  16. Iranian governor says priority to capture US pilot 'alive' after reports of downed jetpublished at 16:11 BST

    Ghoncheh Habibiazad
    Senior reporter, BBC Persian

    The governor of Iran's southern Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province says that the priority is “capturing" any downed US crew "alive”.

    “Those who succeed in capturing or killing hostile enemy forces will be specially commended by the Governor’s office," he adds, according to a report by semi-official ISNA news agency.

    Meanwhile, Iranian outlets have said that a reward of 10 billion tomans (around £50,000) has been set by traders of the province for anyone who finds the American “intruder”.

    Map showing south‑west Iran and the surrounding Gulf region. It highlights Khuzestan province and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer‑Ahmad province inside Iran. neighbouring countries Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE are labelled.
  17. Search under way for downed US F-15 jet, two sources tell CBS Newspublished at 15:53 BST
    Breaking

    A search and rescue effort is under way for a downed US F-15 fighter jet in southern Iran, two sources confirmed to CBS News, the BBC's US news partner.

    It is not known how many crew members were on board.

    Images posted on social media and verified by CBS News showed a refuelling plane and two helicopters flying low over Khuzestan Province, consistent with a search and rescue mission.

    Iran's state media claimed Iranian forces shot down the plane.

  18. What we know - and don't - about reports of a downed US jet in Iranpublished at 15:41 BST

    Media reports say a US fighter jet has been downed in Iran, with a search under way for the crew.

    What we know

    • The reports first came in Iranian media, with the Tasnim news agency claiming the US was searching for the crew
    • Axios, Reuters and the New York Times have since reported the same, citing a US official. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not offer further details, Reuters says
    • It comes after US Central Command (Centcom) denied IRGC reports on Thursday that a fighter pilot had been shot down over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz

    What we don't know

    • Whether the earlier Centcom statement refers to the most recent media reports
    • The fate and whereabouts of the crew, and how many were on board
    • What type of plane it was

    The BBC has contacted Centcom for further information.

  19. Media reports say US fighter jet downed over Iranpublished at 15:12 BST
    Breaking

    A US fighter jet has been shot down over Iran, with a search currently under way for its crew, a US official has told Axios, the Reuters news agency and the New York Times. Separately, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that the US is conducting a rescue operation for the crew.

    It follows reports in Iranian media that a US search for a downed pilot is under way.

  20. Explosion injures three UN peacekeepers in Lebanon - Unifilpublished at 14:56 BST

    An explosion "inside a UN position" has injured three UN peacekeepers in Lebanon the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) says.

    Two of the peacekeepers are seriously injured, the agency says.

    Spokesperson Kandice Ardiel says the blast occurred near El Adeisse, in southern Lebanon, with the origin of the explosion not yet identified.

    She adds that all three peacekeepers are currently being "evacuated to hospital" for treatment.

    It comes after three UN peacekeepers were killed in Lebanon over the past week following two explosions of "unknown origin".