US-Iran war LIVE: Iran claims shooting down US C-130 aircraft, ‘flying objects’; fire at Abu Dhabi petrochemical hub

US Iran war LIVE updates: Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday that it had conveyed to Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that Islamabad supports “all efforts aimed at de-escalation.”

It said in a statement that the two diplomats exchanged views on the evolving regional situation and agreed to remain in close contact.

Pakistan is currently helping to broker a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran by offering to host peace talks.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Strikes killed five people overnight in Iran’s southwest during the rescue of a missing US crewmember of a downed American fighter jet, Iranian media reported Sunday.

“Five people were martyred in last night’s attack on the Kouh-e Siah area” in southwestern Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, the Tasnim news agency cited provincial official Iraj Kazemijou as saying.

He said the killings took place while the US was trying to find “the pilot or pilots” of the downed fighter jet.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Authorities in Abu Dhabi said on Sunday that operations at petrochemicals company Borouge’s factory were suspended after fires broke out at the facility following the fall of debris.

No injuries were reported, the emirate’s media office said.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Several “flying objects” were destroyed during the U.S. mission to find a stranded airman in Iran, the Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday according to Tasnim news agency.

“During a joint operation (Aerospace, Ground Force, Popular Units, Basij and Police command), enemy flying objects were destroyed,” the group said after Iran’s police command announced an American C-130 aircraft had been downed in the south of Isfahan.

The spokesperson of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the unified command of the Iranian armed forces, said the downed aircraft included a C-130 military transport plane as well as two Black Hawk helicopters.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Bahrain’s Bapco Energies said on Sunday that a tank caught fire at one of its storage facilities on Sunday after an Iranian attack, with no injuries reported.

The fire has been extinguished and damage is being assessed, the company said in a statement.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Iran executed two men convicted of attempting to storm a military facility and access an armoury during unrest in January, the Mizan news outlet of its judiciary said on Sunday.

The men, identified as Mohammadamin Biglari and Shahin Vahedparast, were among a group of four in the same case who faced execution, according to rights group Amnesty International.

Iran’s Supreme Court upheld the sentences for the two defendants who were among “rioters who sought to commit mass murder” by trying to steal weapons and military equipment, the outlet added.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said a US aircraft that had been searching for the crewmember of a missing American fighter jet had been destroyed, Iranian media reported on Sunday.

“An American enemy aircraft that was searching for the pilot of a downed fighter jet was destroyed by the fighters of Islam in the southern region of Isfahan,” the Tasnim news agency quoted the Guards as saying.

US President Donald Trump said early Sunday the second crew member from the American fighter jet that crashed inside Iran was “SAFE and SOUND” following a search and rescue operation.

US Iran war LIVE updates: The UAE’s defence ministry said its air defences were responding to missile and drone attacks after Iran said it was targeting the country’s “aluminium industries”.

Two Kuwaiti power and water desalination plants were damaged by a drone attack from Iran, the electricity and water ministry said Sunday, noting the attack caused “the shutdown of two electricity generating units”.

Bahrain’s interior ministry said Sunday that civil defence teams extinguished a fire at an unspecified “facility” following an Iranian attack, noting there were no reported deaths or injuries.

(AFP)

US Iran war LIVE updates: Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards are saying that a US aircraft searching for the crewmember of a missing American fighter jet had been destroyed, Iranian media reported, according to AFP.

“An American enemy aircraft that was searching for the pilot of a downed fighter jet was destroyed by the fighters of Islam in the southern region of Isfahan,” the Tasnim news agency quoted the Guards as saying.

This claim from Iran has come after Trump said early Sunday the second crew member from the American fighter jet that crashed inside Iran was “SAFE and SOUND” following a search and rescue operation.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Trump said the United States didn’t confirm the rescue of the first aviator from the F-15 fighter jet that was shot down in Iran on Friday “because we did not want to jeopardise our second rescue operation.”

In his social media post early Sunday, Trump said the second aviator “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.”

US Iran war LIVE updates: Trump said the US military was tracking the location of the weapons officer, who is a colonel, “24 hours a day” and “diligently planning for his rescue”.

The US military deployed “dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the World, to retrieve him,” Trump said. “He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine.”

Trump added, “he 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.”

US Iran war LIVE updates: The United States has rescued an airman whose F-15 jet was downed in Iran.

Reacting to the development, US President wrote on Truth Social: “WE GOT HIM! 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.”

US Iran war LIVE updates: The second crew member of the downed F-15E fighter jet has been rescued, and both he and the rescue team that carried out the extraction are now “safely out” of Iran, Fox News reported.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Iran warned the US and Israel that the “entire region will become a hell for you” if attacks escalated, according to Iranian media reports.

Washington faced heightened stakes as the conflict entered its sixth week, with the prospect of a US service member alive and on the run in Iran, slim chances for peace talks and polls showing low public support for the war.

US Iran war LIVE updates: The crew member has been confirmed rescued but is not yet safe, Al Jazeera reported, citing a US government official, adding that the rescue operation is still ongoing.

“The rescue team must still successfully exfiltrate from Iran and get back to safety,” the report said, citing the official.

“The crew member has not left Iranian territory, and because of the ongoing hostilities, there could be still danger to that person and to other people involved in that rescue effort,” the report said.

US Iran war LIVE updates: A US government official has told Al Jazeera that the rescue mission is still underway.

The missing crew member has been confirmed rescued, they said, but is not safe yet. The rescue team still needs to successfully exfiltrate from Iran and return to safety, they added.

US Iran war LIVE updates: The second crew member of the F-15E fighter jet shot down over Iran has been recovered after a “heavy firefight”, Al Jazeera reported early Sunday, citing a US government official.

The report did not give details about the condition of the American crew member.

US Iran war LIVE updates: The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said that the country’s “air defences are responding to a missile threat”.

It added, “Please remain in a safe place and follow the warnings and updates on official websites.”

US Iran war LIVE updates: Trump said on social media Saturday that “many” of Iran’s military leaders were killed in a huge strike on the Islamic republic’s capital.

“Many of Iran’s Military Leaders, who have led them poorly and unwisely, are terminated, along with much else, with this massive strike in Tehran!” Trump said, accompanying the post with an undated video showing explosions lighting up a city’s skyline.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Iran’s central military command on Saturday dismissed US President Donald Trump’s warning to destroy key infrastructure if Tehran did not agree to a peace deal within 48 hours.

General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi described Trump’s ultimatum as “a helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid action”.

Earlier, Trump wrote on social media: “Time is running out — 48 hours before all Hell will reign (sic) down on them.”

US-Iran war LIVE: Kuwait Petroleum ​Corporation said a fire broke out in its Shuwaikh oil sector complex, which houses the oil ministry and KPC headquarters, after a drone attack, the Kuwaiti state news agency reported early on Sunday.

Kuwaiti state media, citing the finance ministry, said an Iranian drone hit an office complex for government ministries, causing significant material damage but no casualties.

Two power generation units were also taken out of service after Iranian drones targeted two power and water desalination plants, causing significant damage, Kuwait’s electricity and water ministry said on Sunday.

US-Iran war LIVE: The head of the joint military command said Iran would strike all infrastructure used by US forces in the region, along with Israel’s infrastructure, if attacks on Iran increase.

Gen Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi made the remarks on Saturday evening, as reported by state media, shortly after Trump warned Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face severe consequences.

US-Iran war LIVE: US-Israeli strikes in Ardabil province near Iran’s northwestern border with Azerbaijan killed three people, Iranian media cited an official as saying.

The strikes on Jafarabad and Germi killed three people and wounded three others, said Tasnim news agency, citing the deputy security officer of Ardabil’s governor.

US-Iran war LIVE: Kuwait said two power and water desalination plants were hit by Iranian drones, causing “significant material damage”. Two power generation units have gone out of service, news agency Reuters reported.

A separate Iranian drone strike also caused “significant” damage to a government building in Kuwait City on Saturday evening, the finance ministry said. No deaths or injuries were reported.

US-Iran war LIVE: An Iranian security official has said Tehran is continuing its war strategy as planned, using a “specific target bank”, and warned of “a big surprise” for the US and Israel.

In remarks reported by the Fars news agency, the official said the US’ “target bank is inaccurate” and rejected Trump’s threat to hit bridges, calling it “laughable”.

“We have a big surprise for America and the regime. It only takes a little time,” the official warned. “Their behaviour in southern Iran may also shift the timing of events in our favour.”