Trump briefed on downed F-15E fighter jet in Iran, search and rescue efforts underway

The Trump administration has notified congressional leaders about the downed F-15E in Iran, Fox News has learned.

Lawmakers are not in Washington and are not scheduled to return until the week of April 13.

There is no information available yet on whether a congressional briefing will take place.

Fox News' Kelly Phares contributed to this report.

One pilot has been rescued, and an intense search was underway for a second crew member after a U.S. fighter jet went down over Iran, a source told Fox News.

It wasn't clear how the F-15E went down, but it reportedly was over the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province.

President Donald Trump has been briefed Friday on an F-15E fighter jet that went down over Iran, Fox News has learned.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and state media claimed to have shot down a U.S. fighter jet over central Iran, specifically in the mountainous Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province.

Initial Iranian reports claimed the aircraft was an F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter. However, subsequent photos of wreckage released by Iranian media suggest the aircraft may be an F-15E Strike Eagle, likely from the 494th Fighter Squadron based at RAF Lakenheath.

Click here to read more

Fox News' Morgan Phillips contributed to this report

The U.S. is now flying B-52 bombers over Iran — an operational shift that signals American forces have achieved air superiority inside parts of the country after weeks of strikes degraded Tehran’s defenses.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said in a briefing Tuesday the missions began "given the increase in air superiority," as U.S. forces expand operations inside Iranian territory.

President Donald Trump said during an address to the public Thursday night that Iran’s air defenses had been "annihilated," calling U.S. forces "unstoppable." 

Click here to read more

New footage shows the aftermath of a strike that hit Iran's biggest bridge near Tehran.

The B1 highway bridge, a key link between Iran’s capital and the western city of Karaj, is considered the tallest in the Middle East and was only inaugurated earlier this year. Video shows damage to the structure.

President Donald Trump declared in a Thursday Truth Social post that Iran's largest bridge had come "tumbling down," sharing footage of a thick plume of smoke near a bridge, part of which appeared to fall during the video.

"The biggest bridge in Iran comes tumbling down, never to be used again -- Much more to follow! IT IS TIME FOR IRAN TO MAKE A DEAL BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE, AND THERE IS NOTHING LEFT OF WHAT STILL COULD BECOME A GREAT COUNTRY!" the president declared in the post.

Iranian officials condemned the strike and said at least eight people were killed. The Associated Press reported that the strike on the bridge injured another 95 people celebrating Nature Day, when Iranians gather for picnics and other celebrations outdoors on the last day of Nowruz, the Persian new year.

Fox News' Bonny Chu and The Associated Press contributed to this post. (

The State Department expelled Iran's deputy ambassador to the United Nations last December after he left a designated area, a Middle Eastern source told Fox News Digital.

Axios first reported Friday that deputy ambassador Saadat Aghajani was asked to immediately depart the U.S. in December, but the expulsion was kept quiet at the time.

A Middle Eastern source familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital the incident dates back several months, citing reporting that the deputy ambassador left a designated area and noting that two other members of the delegation of the mission were also expelled.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations told Fox News Digital it had “no comment.”

A State Department official confirmed to Fox News Digital that the United States delivered a Note Verbale on Dec. 4 "regarding the status of certain Iranian personnel at the UN."

"For privacy and security reasons, we do not comment on the specifics of diplomatic personnel actions," the official said, adding, "This action occurred well before the protests in Iran and is unrelated to those events."

According to Axios, Aghajani was asked to leave the U.S. under "section 13 procedures,” which is an internal process at the State Department to process a quiet expulsion. At least two other junior Iranian diplomats had been expelled in the two months before Aghajani.

The State Department in September had restricted the movements of Iranian diplomats at the UN mission to a 25 mile-radius from central Manhattan, Axios reported.

Aghajani’s children, who had stayed in New York after their father departed were also asked to leave the U.S. in February, a U.S. official told Axios.

Fox News Digital's Efrat Lachter contributed to this report

President Donald Trump in a Truth Social Post on Friday said the U.S. could "easily" open the Strait of Hormuz with "a little more time."

"With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE. IT WOULD BE A “GUSHER” FOR THE WORLD???" Trump wrote.

The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to strain global energy markets as Operation Epic Fury approaches a sixth week.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during remarks on Friday that Israel and the United States "are continuing to crush the terrorist regime in Iran," according to a translation from Hebrew.

"Together with our American friends, we are continuing to crush the terrorist regime in Iran. We are eliminating commanders, and bombing bridges and infrastructure," he said.

"In recent days, the Air Force has destroyed 70% of Iran's steel production capacity. This is a tremendous achievement that deprives the IRGC of both funding sources and the ability to produce large quantities of weapons," he noted.

The U.S. and Israel have continued their joint operation against Iran for five weeks.

"In full coordination between myself and President Trump, and between the IDF and the US military, we will continue to crush Iran. This regime is weaker than ever – Israel is stronger than ever," Netanyahu declared.

"In Lebanon, we are continuing to forcefully strike at Hezbollah. We are continuing to expand the security zone and firmly establish it in order to protect the communities of the North," he noted.

"I wish to commend you, citizens of Israel, for standing firm and following the Home Front Command instructions, even on Passover Seder night. Continue to do so. Continue to stand firm," he said. "With G-d’s help, we will continue to fight and we will achieve all of our goals. Happy Passover"

Fox News' Anne Butterworth contributed to this report

The Israel Defense Forces indicated that around 1,000 terrorists have been killed in Lebanon during the past month.

The IDF's post on X also indicated that during that time period in Lebanon there have been "3,500+ terror targets struck," as well as "5 central bridges used to transfer weapons and enemy forces," and "Key assets and financial storage sites."

The State Department expelled Iran's deputy ambassador to the United Nations last December, Axios reported Friday, citing a U.S. official and a source with knowledge of the matter.

Fox News Digital reached out to the State Department for comment Friday and an official noted: "We can confirm that the United States delivered a Note Verbale on December 4 regarding the status of certain Iranian personnel at the UN. For privacy and security reasons, we do not comment on the specifics of diplomatic personnel actions. This action occurred well before the protests in Iran and is unrelated to those events."

Axios reported that the expulsion happened due to national security concerns.

In early December, the State Department issued a note to the Iranian Mission to the UN in New York requesting for deputy ambassador Saadat Aghajani to depart America at once, according to Axios.

In February, the department asked the man's children, who had stayed in New York after their father's exit, to leave the United States as well, a U.S. official reportedly told Axios.

President Donald Trump on Thursday said the U.S. military "hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran," vowing to target bridges and electric power plants next."

Our Military, the greatest and most powerful (by far!) anywhere in the World, hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants! New Regime leadership knows what has to be done, and has to be done, FAST!" the president continued.

Click here for previous coverage