‘WE GOT HIM!’ President Trump confirms US officer’s rescue from Iran

This live blog follows updates for Day 37 of the US-Israeli war on Iran. For a recap of Day 36, go here.

• Iran fires missiles at Israel as explosions rock Jerusalem
• US-Israeli strikes hit Iran petrochemical hub, killing five people
• Iran downs US aircraft as Trump issues Hormuz ultimatum
• Drone attack triggers fire at Kuwait oil facility amid spillover
• Iran denies rejecting talks, backs Pakistan mediation efforts
• Protests erupt in Israel as opposition to war grows

Iran accuses US, Israel of committing 'war crimes'

Published: April 5, 2026 | 06:37 GMT | By Web Desk

The US and Israeli regime’s systematic targeting of civilians and critical infrastructure in Iran—including the Mahshahr Petrochemical Zone (today) and the Karaj–Tehran B1 Bridge (1 April)—constitutes war crimes and State terrorism, the Iranian Mission to the UN said in a post on X on Sunday. 

"These criminal acts violate IHL and terrorize civilians."

It demanded that the "international community must act decisively and condemn unequivocally."

UAE says air defenses responding to Iran missiles, drones

Published: April 5, 2026 | 05:45 GMT | By AFP

Emirati air defenses were responding to missile and drone attacks from Iran, the United Arab Emirates defense ministry said Sunday, as Tehran said it was targeting aluminum industries in the Gulf nation.

"UAE air defenses... are actively engaging with missiles and UAV threats," the ministry posted on X in English, along with an Arabic statement that said the projectiles were coming from Iran.

"MOD (Ministry of Defense) asserts that the sounds heard across the country are the result of ongoing engaging operations of missiles and UAVs," it added.

Iran's army said it was targeting "aluminum industries" in the UAE and US military infrastructure in Kuwait, the official IRNA news agency reported on Saturday.

Iran accuses its Gulf neighbors of allowing US forces to carry out attacks from their territory, but Gulf states have repeatedly denied the accusations, saying even before the war that they would not allow their territory or airspace to be used to attack Iran.

Iran Guards say destroyed US aircraft searching for missing pilot

Published: April 5, 2026 | 04:59 GMT | By Web Desk

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that a US aircraft searching for the pilot of the downed F-15 fighter jet was intercepted and destroyed south of Isfahan, Iranian state-run Press TV reported.

Iran claims it has shot down 162 drones so far

Published: April 5, 2026 | 04:45 GMT | By Web Desk

A Hermes 900 drone was intercepted and shot down by the Army Air Defense Force in Isfahan, central Iran, according to Iranian state-run Press TV.

It reported that the latest interception brought the total number of drones downed by the country’s integrated Joint Air Defense network to 162.

‘WE GOT HIM!’ President Trump confirms US officer’s rescue from Iran  

Published: April 5, 2026 | 04:27 GMT | By Web Desk

US President Donald Trump, in a post on TruthSocial, confirmed rescue of the missing US officer from Iran.

He said that the rescued officer was ‘safe and sound’.

President Trump said, “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!”

He stated, “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.”

Missing airman from downed US jet 'recovered': Report

Published: April 5, 2026 | 03:59 GMT | By Web Desk

The US has “recovered” the second crew member from the downed F-15E jet in Iran following a “heavy firefight”, a US government official said, according to Al Jazeera. 

The media outlet also reported strikes in the city of Dehdasht in Kohgiluyeh County, where the aircraft was downed two days ago. 

It said that it was very clear that there was an operation going on by the Americans to try to rescue the second pilot. 

Meanwhile, Axios quoting US officials reported that US special forces rescued the second crew member of the F-15 fighter jet that was shot down over Iran.

Strike hits area near search for missing US pilot

Published: April 5, 2026 | 02:30 GMT | By Web Desk

Iranian state media reported that a missile strike killed four people in southwestern Iran, near an area where search operations are underway for a missing US pilot.

Citing local officials, the reports described the attack as a “US-Israeli” operation targeting the Kouh Siah area in Dehdasht.

The strike hit a telecommunications facility and an IRIB broadcast tower, a provincial deputy governor said.

“Four people were killed and one injured,” the official told state media.

The incident comes as Iranian authorities and local forces continue searching for a US airman who went missing after ejecting from a downed fighter jet in the same region.

There was no immediate confirmation from US or Israeli officials.

Iran launches missiles, drones as regional conflict sharply escalates

Published: April 5, 2026 | 01:54 GMT | By AFP

Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel and Kuwait early Sunday, a day after President Donald Trump said the Islamic Republic had 48 hours to cut a deal or face "all Hell."

Kuwait and Israel said their air defenses were responding to the latest attacks from Iran, part of the war that erupted more than a month ago with US-Israeli strikes that triggered retaliation by Tehran.

The war has spread conflict throughout the Middle East and convulsed the global economy. Iran's forces maintain a tight grip on the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane, a vital conduit for oil and gas, and strike economic targets in Gulf neighbors they see as linked to the US-Israeli war effort.

Pope marks first Easter under cloud of Mideast war

Published: April 5, 2026 | 01:42 GMT | By Web Desk

Pope Leo XIV is set to mark Easter Sunday for the first time as pontiff, with the Middle East war casting a pall over the most important date in the Christian calendar.

The US-born pope, who has emerged as a leading voice against the war, will hold mass in St. Peter’s Square from 0830 GMT in front of thousands of faithful.

The leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics will then pronounce a traditional blessing at 1000 GMT that will be closely followed this year.

The ceremony will also bring back memories of late Pope Francis, who last appeared in public on Easter Sunday last year — a few hours before he died.

Speaking during an Easter Vigil on Saturday, the pontiff called for “a new world of peace and unity” and decried the divisions created by “war, injustice and the isolation of peoples and nations.”

Leo has repeatedly called for peace in the Middle East and this week directly urged US President Donald Trump to find an “off-ramp.”

Iran claims US jets downed, search underway

Published: April 5, 2026 | 00:54 GMT | By Web Desk

Iran said it shot down a US F-15 warplane earlier this week, with US media reporting that special forces rescued one of the two crew members while the other remains missing.

Tehran also said its forces downed a US A-10 ground attack aircraft over the Gulf, with US media reporting the pilot was rescued.

Washington has not officially confirmed either incident or provided updates on efforts to locate the missing airman.

According to Mehr news agency, a local official said search operations are ongoing. “The search… involves popular forces and tribesmen alongside military forces and is still ongoing,” deputy governor Fattah Mohammadi said.

He added that “people fired at enemy helicopters… and did not allow them to land.”

Kuwait intercepts missiles, reports damage from drone attack

Published: April 5, 2026 | 00:00 GMT | By Web Desk

Kuwait’s military said its air defense systems were actively intercepting incoming missiles and drones targeting the country, as regional tensions continue to escalate.

“Kuwaiti Air Defenses are currently responding to hostile missile and drone threats,” the army said in a post on X, adding that explosions heard were the result of interception operations.

Separately, authorities said an Iranian drone attack on a government office complex caused “significant” damage on Saturday, though no injuries were reported.