Iran, FT: “US jet downing is the first time in 23 years: last case was in Iraq”

Washington (USA), Apr. 4 (LaPresse) – The downing of two U.S. military jets yesterday by Iran constitutes a rather rare attack for the United States, which had not occurred for more than 20 years. Retired Air Force Brigadier General Houston Cantwell, a former F-16 fighter pilot, reports that the last time a U.S. warplane was shot down by enemy fire in combat was an A-10 Thunderbolt II during the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. Yesterday Iran shot down a U.S. F15-E Strike Eagle fighter jet; according to U.S. officials, one military pilot was rescued, while searches are still ongoing for a second service member. Iranian state media also reported that a U.S. A-10 attack aircraft crashed after being hit by Iranian air defense forces.