Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for shooting down another US F-35 fighter jet. According to a Telegram post by the IRGC-controlled Fars News Agency, the aircraft was flying over Iranian territory when it was targeted and destroyed. The IRGC stated that the jet was completely destroyed and crashed, with no information available about the pilot.

Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported that a powerful explosion occurred when the aircraft went down, suggesting that the pilot may not have been able to eject. The report did not provide further details about the location or timing of the incident. The US Central Command has not issued any immediate response to Iran’s claim.

The claim, reported by Al Jazeera and Iranian media outlets, adds to ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States, though independent verification of the incident has not yet been provided.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened additional attacks on Iran’s critical infrastructure, according to a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Thursday. He stated that the U.S. military, which he described as the world’s strongest, has not yet begun destroying what remains in Iran. Trump added that bridges and power plants could be next targets, urging Iran’s leadership to act quickly.

The post came a day after Trump’s national address about “Operation Epic Fury,” which began on February 28. In that address, he warned that the United States would deliver severe blows to Iran within the next two to three weeks, saying the country would be pushed back to the “stone age.” The remarks were reported by Anadolu Agency.

The statements mark an escalation in rhetoric following the launch of Operation Epic Fury, signaling potential intensification of U.S. military actions against Iran’s infrastructure in the coming weeks.

A recent US intelligence assessment indicates that nearly half of Iran’s missile launchers remain intact despite more than a month of extensive US and Israeli airstrikes. The report, cited by three sources speaking to CNN, also states that Iran still possesses thousands of drones, representing about half of its drone capability. Some launchers may be buried under debris from attacks but are not fully destroyed, leaving them potentially operational.

According to the intelligence findings, a significant portion of Iran’s coastal defense cruise missiles also remains undamaged, as the United States has conducted limited airstrikes along Iran’s coastline. These missiles could pose a serious threat to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. One source told CNN that Iran retains the capacity to inflict widespread destruction across the region.

The intelligence assessment contrasts with President Trump’s claim of victory in the Iran conflict, suggesting that Iran’s military capabilities remain far from neutralized.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that its air defense system shot down an enemy fighter jet south of Qeshm Island in the Persian Gulf. The report, carried by Iranian state media on April 3, 2026, stated that the aircraft was successfully targeted by the country’s integrated air defense network.

According to the IRGC statement, the aircraft was hit by a missile and crashed into the sea between Hengam and Qeshm islands. The statement did not specify which country the downed aircraft belonged to. The IRGC emphasized that the operation was conducted under the control of Iran’s coordinated air defense system in the region.

The report, citing Anadolu as its source, did not include any confirmation or reaction from other parties, leaving the nationality of the aircraft and further details of the incident unclear.

Eight people were killed and at least 95 others injured in an attack by US and Israeli forces on Iran’s B1 Bridge in Karaj city, Alborz province, according to the provincial governor’s office. Local officials said the victims included residents of Bilghan village, pedestrians, and families celebrating Nature Day near the bridge.

Iran’s Fars news agency described the B1 Bridge, located on the Tehran–Karaj route, as the tallest bridge in the Middle East. The attack caused heavy casualties due to its location on a major highway. Iranian authorities stated that regional bridges are now being considered “legitimate targets,” claiming the strike hit a civilian infrastructure site with no military use.

In response, an Iranian hacker group threatened to attack the Sheikh Zayed Bridge in Abu Dhabi. Tehran accused the US and Israel of deliberately targeting civilian and economic facilities to spread fear and weaken Iran’s industrial capacity. The Health Ministry reported that since the conflict began on February 28, a total of 2,766 people, including 216 children, have been killed.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on the United States and Israel to immediately stop their ongoing military actions in the Middle East. Speaking to reporters in New York, he warned that the current conflict could expand into a large-scale war engulfing the entire region and deeply affecting the world. Guterres emphasized that the situation is already causing severe humanitarian suffering and economic damage.

According to the report, since February 28, US and Israeli forces have been carrying out attacks on various locations in Iran. In response, Iran has launched counterstrikes targeting Israeli positions and US bases across the Middle East. Guterres highlighted that rising energy and food prices are already burdening people, and any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz would disproportionately harm the world’s poorest and most vulnerable populations.

He urged all parties to resolve disputes peacefully and protect civilian infrastructure, reiterating that it is time to end the war before it causes further destruction.

Three United Nations special rapporteurs have condemned the killing of three journalists in Lebanon and called for an independent and comprehensive investigation. They described the incident as another brutal attack by Israeli forces on press freedom. The experts—Irina Khan, Morris Tidball-Binz, and Ben Saul—stated that journalists performing their professional duties during armed conflict are civilians and must not be targeted or attacked.

According to the report, Israeli forces carried out a targeted strike on March 28 in southern Lebanon, killing Al Mayadeen journalist Fatima Fattouni, her brother and freelance photojournalist Mohammad Fattouni, and Al-Manar’s Ali Shoaib. The UN experts emphasized that the deliberate killing of journalists not directly involved in combat constitutes a serious violation of international human rights and humanitarian law and may amount to a war crime.

Al Mayadeen and Al-Manar are Hezbollah-aligned media outlets. Israel accused Shoaib of being a fighter for the Lebanese armed group but did not present any evidence to support the claim.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for an attack on a data center operated by U.S. technology company Oracle in Dubai. The claim was reported by Iranian state media amid heightened tensions across the Middle East. The IRGC also stated earlier that it had targeted an Amazon cloud computing facility located in Bahrain.

Analysts cited in the report suggest that Iran is increasingly viewing U.S.-linked technology infrastructure as strategic targets. As part of this approach, data centers and technology installations across several Middle Eastern countries have been identified as key objectives.

The report notes that recent weeks have seen escalating conflict in the region, raising the risk of further attacks on technology infrastructure. Such incidents could disrupt global digital services and economic activities, according to the report.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has launched an international coalition of nearly 40 countries to reopen the Hormuz Strait, which remains effectively blocked by Iran. The closure, following US and Israeli attacks on Iran in late February, has disrupted the passage of about 20 percent of global oil and LNG shipments, pushing crude prices above $100 per barrel. The virtual meeting, chaired by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, includes France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, and the UAE, though the United States has declined to participate.

Starmer said the talks will explore diplomatic and political measures to restore safe navigation, secure stranded ships and crews, and resume energy and goods supply. Post-war security coordination, including mine clearance and naval protection for tankers, is also under discussion. Iran, however, demands international recognition of its control over the strait as a condition for ceasefire and currently allows only limited passage for “friendly” nations.

Analysts cited in the report believe reopening the strait without an agreement with Iran is nearly impossible, though the coalition could play a key role in ensuring maritime security once hostilities end.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has called for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor through the Strait of Hormuz to transport fertilizer and other essential goods. The appeal was made via video during a meeting on Iran organized under British coordination, according to reports from Rome. Tajani emphasized that ensuring the movement of fertilizer and humanitarian supplies through the strait is crucial.

The statement noted that Tajani, along with the Dutch minister and the UAE deputy minister, stressed the need to work with the United Nations to establish the corridor as soon as possible. They highlighted the importance of maintaining the flow of fertilizer and other goods to prevent a new food crisis in African countries.

The proposal reflects growing concern about supply disruptions affecting food security in Africa, with Italy urging swift international cooperation to safeguard essential trade routes.

An Iranian military spokesperson has accused the United States and Israel of attacking what he described as 'insignificant' targets, claiming the two countries lack understanding of Iran’s extensive and strategic military capabilities. The statement, issued by the Khatam al-Anbia military command headquarters and published by Tasnim news agency, warned that more extensive, powerful, and destructive attacks are forthcoming.

The spokesperson asserted that Iran’s strategic missile production centers, long-range offensive drones, advanced air defense, and electronic warfare systems remain intact. He emphasized that Iran’s military production facilities are located in undisclosed areas beyond the reach of its adversaries. The Iranian military pledged to continue fighting until what it called the 'final surrender' of its enemies.

The remarks reflect Tehran’s defiant stance amid ongoing hostilities with the United States and Israel, underscoring Iran’s claim of resilience and readiness for escalation.

Austria has rejected a request from the United States to use its airspace for a military operation against Iran. The Austrian Defense Ministry stated that the decision was made in line with the country’s long-standing policy of neutrality. According to a report by the state broadcaster ORF, Washington had made multiple such requests, though the exact number was not disclosed.

A spokesperson for the Defense Ministry said that each request would be reviewed individually and coordinated with the Foreign Ministry. Austria has maintained a policy of military neutrality for decades, and while it has not imposed a blanket ban on US military aircraft, each request is being considered separately.

The report also noted that Spain and Italy have taken similar positions. Spain announced that its airspace would remain closed to US military aircraft involved in the conflict, while Italy recently denied Washington permission to use a military base in Sicily.

International experts and human rights organizations have warned that US President Donald Trump’s threat to attack Iran’s civilian infrastructure, including power plants and desalination facilities, would constitute a clear war crime. The warning follows Trump’s statement that if Iran fails to reach an agreement with Washington, the United States could launch widespread strikes on key non-military sites. Reports indicate that more than 113,000 civilian facilities in Iran have already been targeted during the ongoing conflict.

Former US ambassador for war crimes issues Stephen J. Rapp stated that attacking desalination plants would “certainly be a war crime” with little room for doubt. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) urged the US Congress to halt funding that could escalate the war and called for an investigation into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for possible war crimes.

Meanwhile, Israel announced plans to target civilian infrastructure in southern Lebanon, with its military reportedly planning to destroy homes near the border. Human rights group Medical Aid for Palestinians alleged that Israel is using tactics similar to those deployed in Gaza to forcibly displace civilians.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has stated that its recent attacks on several facilities in the Gulf region were intended as a warning. According to a statement published in Iranian media and cited by Al Jazeera, the IRGC said it targeted a US-linked steel plant in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and an aluminum facility in Bahrain in response to US strikes earlier in the week.

The statement emphasized that these operations were a cautionary message. The IRGC warned that if Iran’s industrial sector is attacked again, its next response would be more severe, targeting the core infrastructure and US economic facilities in the region. Since the start of the conflict, the IRGC has repeatedly warned it could strike US-linked or owned installations across the Gulf.

The announcement underscores rising tensions between Iran and the United States in the Gulf, with the IRGC signaling readiness for further escalation if hostilities continue.

French President Emmanuel Macron stated that war or military strikes cannot provide a lasting solution to Iran’s nuclear issue. Speaking during his visit to South Korea, Macron emphasized that military action by the United States or Israel would not permanently resolve the crisis and instead called for diplomatic engagement.

He warned that without a clear framework for diplomatic and technical discussions, the situation could deteriorate again within months or years. Macron also dismissed proposals for a military operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as unrealistic, citing the high risks involved. He noted that such actions would expose vessels in the area to threats from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, which possesses ballistic missiles and significant military capabilities.

Macron’s remarks highlight France’s continued preference for negotiation over confrontation in addressing tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program and regional security.