Arab-British Understanding Council Director Chris Doyle told Al Jazeera that Iran’s downing of a US fighter jet marked a significant moment for Tehran’s global standing. He said the incident demonstrated Iran’s ability to directly challenge the military dominance of the United States, showing that it could engage both symmetrically and asymmetrically in the conflict.

Doyle noted that while the war was initially expected to end quickly, the situation has shifted dramatically. He described apparent disarray within the White House and Pentagon, citing reports of Defense Secretary Hegseth dismissing generals as a sign of weakened US leadership. Unlike past US operations that risked “mission creep,” Doyle said this time the United States is experiencing “mission contraction.” The initial goal of regime change in Iran has been abandoned, with President Donald Trump and other leaders now saying they no longer seek it.

According to Doyle, Iran appears more organized and deliberate in its strategy. He warned that if Washington fails to regain control, its international credibility could suffer further, especially after the costly F-15 jet was shot down.

At least 14 people were killed in a series of Russian attacks across Ukraine on Friday, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. The strikes involved more than 500 drones and several dozen missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of intensifying assaults ahead of Catholic Easter, saying the skies should have been silent during the holy period.

Images released by Ukraine’s emergency services showed damaged residential buildings, debris-strewn streets, and the ruins of a multi-story structure. Regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk reported one death and eight injuries in Kyiv, where a veterinary clinic was also hit, killing about 20 animals. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said drone strikes damaged homes in Obukhiv and near a kindergarten and school in Vyshneve.

Authorities confirmed three deaths in the northern Sumy region, two in Zhytomyr and Dnipropetrovsk, and eight more in border areas including Kharkiv, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.

Iran has rejected a United States proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire, according to a report by Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency. The diplomatic offer was reportedly conveyed on Wednesday through an unnamed intermediary country. The United States has not yet issued any comment regarding the authenticity or details of the proposal.

The report comes at a time of heightened military tension. Citing sources, Fars News stated that Washington had intensified its diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire following an Iranian attack on a US military warehouse located on Kuwait’s Bubiyan Island. Instead of issuing a written response, Iran reportedly continued its military operations as a form of reply.

The report did not specify which country acted as the intermediary or provide further details on the ongoing conflict or diplomatic exchanges.

US special forces reportedly entered Iran on Friday night to search for a missing crew member from a downed F-15 fighter jet, according to a report by The Telegraph. The aircraft was shot down by Iranian forces after entering Iranian airspace. While one crew member was rescued during a separate operation involving two US military helicopters and a refueling aircraft, the second pilot remained missing as of Friday night.

The report noted that neither the US nor Iranian armed forces had officially confirmed the entry of US special forces into Iran at the time of publication. Iranian state media released footage showing local militias conducting searches for the missing airman and offering a $60,000 reward for his capture. Officials said both US helicopters were hit by Iranian fire during the rescue attempt, though one managed to return safely to Iraqi airspace.

The incident has intensified tensions between the two countries as both sides continue efforts to locate the missing pilot.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has issued an implicit warning regarding the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a key maritime passage linking the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. The statement came on Saturday through a post on social media platform X, where Ghalibaf questioned how much of the world’s oil, LNG, wheat, rice, and fertilizer shipments pass through the strait and which countries and companies rely most on it. His remarks were interpreted as a clear caution to commercial vessels operating in the area.

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, though less critical than the Strait of Hormuz, remains a vital route for global maritime trade, handling around 14 percent of commercial shipments, including about 5 percent of global oil supply. The strait’s security has been a growing concern for industries since Iran-backed Houthi forces, who control large parts of Yemen, became involved in regional conflicts. Iran has already maintained effective control over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Analysts note that instability around Bab al-Mandeb could further strain global shipping and energy supply routes if tensions escalate.

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has reported that more than one million people have been displaced in Lebanon over the past month due to Israeli aggression. According to UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch, the situation in Lebanon is becoming increasingly dire, with widespread displacement following Israeli evacuation orders and subsequent attacks. The report, cited by Turkey’s Anadolu Agency, said that one in every five people in Lebanon has been forced from their homes, with around 600 shelters now housing the displaced population.

Baloch stated that the conflict shows no signs of slowing and is severely affecting both Lebanese citizens and Syrian refugees living in the country. He added that over 200,000 people have fled Lebanon for Syria, averaging about 7,000 crossings per day. Many displaced individuals within Lebanon continue to move from place to place in search of safety.

To support those affected, UNHCR is working to raise $300 million in humanitarian funding for displaced people across Lebanon.

Delegations from Pakistan and Afghanistan are meeting in Urumqi, Xinjiang, for peace talks mediated by China to end renewed border clashes that began on February 22. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed the meeting on Friday, noting that both sides welcomed Beijing’s initiative and expressed willingness to continue discussions. China had earlier sent special envoys to Islamabad and Kabul in March to facilitate dialogue.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andarabi said Islamabad seeks a “permanent solution” and will raise its core concerns during the talks, emphasizing that peace depends on Kabul taking credible action against groups using Afghan territory to attack Pakistan. Meanwhile, Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi stated that Kabul’s delegation joined the talks at China’s request, aiming for balanced and ethical engagement based on good neighborly relations.

The renewed talks follow earlier mediation efforts by Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey after border clashes last October. Both sides now hope the Chinese-led dialogue will strengthen trade and security cooperation.

The Pentagon has confirmed that 13 US soldiers have been killed and 365 others injured so far in the ongoing war involving Iran. Among the injured are 247 members of the army, 63 navy sailors, 19 marines, and 36 air force personnel. The report was released on April 4, 2026.

According to the Pentagon, seven of the fatalities occurred at the hands of opposing forces, six were killed in Iranian attacks in Kuwait, and one soldier died in Saudi Arabia after being wounded. The report did not clarify whether any crew members from US warplanes downed or attacked by Iranian forces on Friday were included in the casualty figures.

The information was sourced from Xinhua, and further details about the extent of US aircraft losses or additional casualties remain unclear.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have jointly urged an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing Middle East war. According to a Kremlin statement released on Friday, the two leaders made the appeal during a phone conversation, emphasizing the need for a negotiated peace agreement that considers the legitimate interests of all countries in the region.

The conflict began about a month ago following attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, which subsequently spread across the Middle East. The Kremlin warned that the intensifying military confrontation is having negative effects not only regionally but also globally, particularly on energy, trade, and supply chains.

During the same call, Putin and Erdogan also discussed security in the Black Sea region. Russia accused Ukraine of attempting to attack gas transport infrastructure connecting Russia and Turkey. Gazprom reported that a drone attack on the TurkStream gas pipeline was thwarted on Thursday, a route that supplies gas to several European countries including Hungary, Slovakia, and Serbia.

Iran has claimed that its air defense forces shot down a US A-10 Warthog fighter jet near the Strait of Hormuz. According to Iranian state television, the aircraft was destroyed through an air defense strike. The incident follows a report from Friday that another US F-15E Strike Eagle jet had crashed inside Iranian territory.

CBS News reported that the A-10 Warthog was participating in a rescue mission for the downed F-15E when it came under attack. It remains unclear whether the aircraft mentioned by Iran and the one cited by CBS are the same. During the rescue attempt, two additional US aircraft were also targeted, and the A-10 pilot ejected into the sea before being rescued. One of two helicopters involved in the operation was hit by small-arms fire, injuring several crew members, though it landed safely. The search for the second F-15E pilot continues.

US President Donald Trump told NBC News that the incident would not affect potential talks with Iran, describing it as part of wartime realities. The White House confirmed that the president had been fully briefed on the situation.

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters spokesperson, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, announced that a US warplane was recently shot down using Iran’s new advanced defense system. In a televised statement, he said the aircraft was targeted south of Qeshm Island and crashed into the waters between Qeshm and Hengam islands. Zolfaghari argued that the incident disproves former US President Donald Trump’s claim that the United States had destroyed Iran’s air defense network.

The event is being portrayed as a demonstration of Iran’s growing military capability. It occurred against the backdrop of heightened political and military tension in the Middle East, where US air operations have been active. The report did not include any US response or independent verification of the incident.

The development may further strain US-Iran relations and influence ongoing regional security dynamics if confirmed, though details remain limited.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Friday for an unannounced visit amid the ongoing war in the Middle East. According to Al Jazeera, she is currently in Jeddah and plans to hold important meetings in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates during her two-day regional trip. This marks the first visit by a European Union leader to Saudi Arabia since the Iran–United States war began on February 28.

Meloni is scheduled to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the trip. The visit aims to express Italy’s support for Arab allies facing Iranian attacks and to secure stable energy supplies for Italy amid rising global energy prices. Her engagements in the region are seen as part of efforts to strengthen diplomatic and energy cooperation with Gulf nations.

The visit underscores Italy’s intention to balance solidarity with regional partners and safeguard its national energy interests during a period of heightened geopolitical tension.

Major US media outlets reported that one crew member from an American fighter jet downed over Iran has been rescued. According to AFP from Washington, citing unnamed sources, Axios and CBS News said US special forces recovered one of the two crew members, while search operations continue for the second. The New York Times and Wall Street Journal identified the aircraft as an F-15E model, which typically carries a pilot and a weapons systems officer.

CNN reported that analysis of wreckage photos published by Iranian media also suggested the aircraft was an F-15, though some Iranian sources claimed it was an F-35 stealth jet. US media further noted that President Donald Trump has been briefed on the incident, but there has been no official comment from the White House or the Pentagon.

Reports added that specialized US forces are conducting rescue operations near the suspected crash site, with social media and Iranian outlets showing low-flying US helicopters and aircraft in the area.

The United Nations Security Council has postponed a scheduled vote on a draft resolution authorizing the use of defensive force to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The 15-member council was expected to vote on Friday morning, but the session was rescheduled Thursday night due to the Good Friday holiday. No new date has been set for the vote.

The draft, backed by the United States, would allow member states to take necessary defensive measures individually or through a voluntary multinational naval coalition to secure navigation in the strait and nearby waters. The proposal follows Iran’s effective control of the strait after U.S.-Israeli attacks, which has disrupted global energy supplies. Diplomats said the text was revised several times to address concerns from Russia, China, and France, removing direct reference to Chapter VII of the UN Charter and emphasizing the defensive nature of any action.

Uncertainty remains over whether Russia and China, both with veto power, will support the measure. Analysts warn that potential vetoes could block the resolution, while energy prices continue to rise due to the disruption.

Azizur Rahman, a day laborer from Shahhanabad village in Thakurgaon’s Ranisankail upazila, was detained by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) in May 2025 while cutting grass near the border. After spending 11 months in Indian prisons and hospitals, he died on March 22, 2026, in a hospital in Islampur, India. His body was repatriated to Bangladesh through the Banglabandha land port on April 3 under government arrangements, following an order signed by a senior assistant secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and family members received the body in the afternoon.

Azizur’s wife, Taskara Begum, alleged that BSF personnel tortured her husband after his arrest, leading to his critical illness and eventual death. The family learned of his death through relatives in India. Local officials confirmed that the body was handed over to the family and buried the same evening at the Shahhanabad graveyard.

The incident has caused deep grief in the local community, highlighting ongoing tensions and human costs along the Bangladesh-India border.