As the conflict between Iran’s regime and the United States and Israel enters its 35th day, the war has seen a significant escalation with the downing of a U.S. F-15E fighter jet over southwestern Iran.

While U.S. intelligence reports indicate that the Iranian regime still maintains roughly half of its missile and drone capabilities, the regime has continued to launch retaliatory strikes across the region, resulting in a civilian death in the UAE and infrastructure damage in Kuwait.

Simultaneously, diplomatic efforts at the United Nations to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz have been delayed as member states debate the authorization of military force. Inside Iran, heavy airstrikes have targeted infrastructure, including a major bridge in Karaj and ports on Qeshm Island.

Roundup of today’s key events

A U.S. F-15E fighter jet was shot down over Iran; one crew member was rescued while a search operation is underway for the second pilot amid bounties offered by regime officials.

The death toll from the U.S. airstrike on the B1 bridge in Karaj has risen to 13, prompting regime-affiliated media to threaten retaliatory attacks on key bridges in Israel and neighboring Arab nations.

Recent U.S. intelligence assessments reveal that the Iranian regime retains approximately 50 percent of its missile launchers and drone capabilities, contradicting some public statements by U.S. officials.

The UN Security Council has delayed a vote on a Bahrain-sponsored resolution to secure the Strait of Hormuz after the draft was watered down to remove authorization for offensive military action due to opposition from Russia and China.

Regional fallout continues as drone strikes caused a fire at a Kuwaiti oil refinery, and falling debris from an intercepted regime attack killed an Egyptian citizen at a gas facility in the UAE.

Video footage emerged showing an Iranian regime missile malfunctioning and crashing in Tehran, coinciding with reports of airstrikes in several districts of the capital.

U.S. fighter jet downed over Iran, search underway for missing pilot

On Friday, April 3, a two-seater U.S. F-15E fighter jet was downed over Iran. According to a U.S. official, one crew member was successfully rescued, while a search and rescue mission was urgently scrambled to locate the second aviator. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility, with its affiliated Nour News stating the aircraft was destroyed over central Iran by a “new advanced air defense system.”

In the aftermath of the crash, a channel affiliated with Iranian state television claimed a U.S. pilot had ejected over a rural area in southwestern Iran. A regional governor subsequently issued a public plea for locals to capture the aviators, and a representative of local merchants reportedly offered a bounty equivalent to $60,000 for handing over the “enemy pilot” to the police. The White House confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump has been briefed on the incident.

Death toll in Karaj bridge strike rises to 13 as regime threatens regional infrastructure

An Iranian regime official announced on Friday that the death toll from the U.S. airstrike on the B1 bridge in Karaj has increased to 13. The attack, which took place on April 2 in the Azimiyeh area, also left 95 people injured. Local authorities noted that the casualties included residents of the nearby Bilqan village and travelers gathered for the Nature Day holiday (13 Bedar). The unfinished bridge was designed to connect the Chalus road to the Tehran-North freeway.

The US President, Donald Trump confirmed the U.S. military targeted the elevated bridge, sharing a video of its collapse and warning that more targets in Iran would be hit if the regime does not agree to end the war. Regime Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded that targeting civilian infrastructure would not force the regime into submission.

Meanwhile, regime-affiliated media escalated their rhetoric, publishing lists of potential targets for retaliation. Fars News Agency, linked to the IRGC, identified several “important” bridges in neighboring countries, including the Sheikh Jaber Causeway in Kuwait, the King Fahd Causeway in Saudi Arabia, the Sheikh Zayed Bridge in the UAE, and the King Hussein Bridge in Jordan, as well as infrastructure in Israel. Nour News also listed a bridge in northern Israel as a potential target.

U.S. intelligence warns of significant remaining regime missile capabilities

CNN reported that recent U.S. intelligence assessments suggest that the Iranian regime retains roughly half of its missile launchers and thousands of attack drones, despite five weeks of intensive bombings by the U.S. and Israel. According to sources familiar with the intelligence, the regime is still “poised to wreak absolute havoc throughout the entire region.”

The surviving arsenal includes a large percentage of coastal defense cruise missiles, which continue to pose a significant threat to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The intelligence sources warn that an early conclusion to the war is unrealistic given the regime’s remaining assets. U.S. Central Command confirmed that more than 12,300 targets inside Iran have been struck so far. Israeli military officials currently estimate the number of operational Iranian launchers to be lower, at around 20 to 25 percent, though this excludes launchers buried in inaccessible tunnels.

UN Security Council delays vote on Strait of Hormuz resolution

The UN Security Council has delayed a vote on a resolution proposed by Bahrain aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The vote, originally scheduled for Friday morning in New York, was postponed to Saturday due to the Good Friday holiday.

Bahrain significantly watered down its initial draft, which would have authorized “all necessary means”—language that implies the use of military force—to secure the waterway. The revision followed strong opposition from veto-wielding members China and Russia, with France also expressing concerns over the broad use of force. The amended draft now strictly authorizes “defensive means necessary and commensurate with the circumstances” to protect international navigation for at least six months.

In a message to the UN Security Council, regime Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned against any “provocative actions” by “hostile countries,” stating that such moves would only complicate the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Regime strikes hit Kuwait refinery and UAE gas facility

Retaliatory strikes by the Iranian regime have caused structural damage and casualties in neighboring Gulf states. In Kuwait, the official news agency reported a fire at the Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery, owned by the Kuwait National Petroleum Company. The blaze was triggered early Friday morning when multiple drones crashed into operational units at the site. No casualties were reported in the Kuwait incident.

However, in the United States Arab Emirates, an Egyptian citizen was killed and four others suffered minor injuries at the Habshan gas facility in Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi Media Office reported that the casualties occurred during an evacuation after debris from an intercepted strike—linked to the Iranian regime’s regional attacks—fell onto the facility, causing significant damage.

Missile failure and airstrikes reported in Tehran

Further exposing the failures of the regime’s military apparatus, video footage released on April 3 showed an Iranian regime missile malfunctioning shortly after launch from a location in Tehran. The projectile subsequently crashed into another part of the city, reportedly near Mehrabad Airport, due to an apparent technical failure. Coinciding with this incident, local media reported ongoing airstrikes targeting various districts in the capital, including Mehrabad, Velenjak, and Telo.

Qeshm island port damaged in recent airstrikes

Satellite imagery published on Thursday, April 2, revealed visible damage to a commercial port on Qeshm Island following recent airstrikes. Local free trade zone officials confirmed that the Bahman commercial port and the Doha fishing pier were targeted from Wednesday, April 1, through midday Thursday. While the state-run Mehr News Agency claimed there were no casualties, regional officials condemned the attack on the commercial site as a violation of international law. Earlier in the conflict, Qeshm Island was struck during the war’s opening days, resulting in severe damage to a desalination plant that authorities say cannot be repaired in the short term.

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