Important Facts From The 35th Day Of Conflict Between Iran, Israel, And The United States

Here are the key points not to miss on the 35th day of conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States.

Undoubtedly the heaviest blow to the United States by Iran since the beginning of the conflict has occurred. On the 35th day of the war in the Middle East, on Friday, April 3, two American planes, an F-15 fighter jet, and an A-10 Warthog, were shot down by the Iranian army’s air defense systems. While the A-10 Warthog managed to escape U.S. airspace, the F-15 crashed in central Iran. The two crew members are actively being sought by the U.S. military and Tehran, which has offered a “generous reward” to anyone helping locate them. Meanwhile, less than a week after the deaths of three UN peacekeepers, three soldiers in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Finul) were injured in an explosion in the south of Lebanon, where fighting between Israel and pro-Iranian Hezbollah is raging. Israel has announced “large-scale strikes” on Tehran. Here are the key details.

Two American Planes Shot Down by Iran

During the day on Friday, Iran announced the downing of two American combat aircraft. The first announcement was regarding an F-15 fighter jet that crashed in Iranian territory, as confirmed indirectly by the White House spokeswoman, stating that Donald Trump had been “kept informed.” Several Iranian state media outlets announced it had been shot down and posted photos of debris claimed to be from the aircraft. The Iranian regime has promised a “generous reward” for anyone helping to locate the two pilots who seem to have successfully ejected from the aircraft—according to various American media reports that one of the two has been rescued by the U.S. military.

The Iranian military later claimed to have shot down a second American combat aircraft. “An American A-10 aircraft was hit by air defense systems and crashed into the Gulf,” announced the state television (Irib), citing a statement from the army. According to CNN and the Washington Post, citing unidentified American officials, the pilot also managed to leave Iranian airspace and reach Kuwait before ejecting. The pilot has reportedly been rescued.

Three UN Peacekeepers Injured in Lebanon

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Finul) announced that three peacekeepers were injured in the southern part of the country at the same time as new Israeli strikes hit Beirut. “This afternoon, an explosion inside a UN position injured three peacekeepers, two of them severely,” said Finul, adding that the origin of the explosion was immediately unknown. Earlier in the week, three Finul members were killed in explosions in the region. The Israeli army, partially implicated, denied any responsibility, stating that none of its troops were present in the area. Israeli operations in the south of the country against the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement have resulted in 1,368 casualties, including 125 children, according to the latest health ministry tally, and have displaced over a million people.

Large-Scale Israeli Strikes on Tehran

The Israeli army announced launching “large-scale strikes” on Tehran, simultaneously with bombings in the southern suburbs of Beirut. “In addition to the strikes on Beirut, the Israeli army launched large-scale strikes targeting the Iranian regime’s infrastructure in Tehran,” according to the statement. Several loud explosions were heard in Tehran in the evening, with planes flying over, as reported by AFP journalists. The anti-aircraft defenses were activated, according to the Iranian Fars news agency.

WHO Appeals for Urgent Funding in Five Countries

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an appeal on Friday for $30.3 million in funding for “urgent assistance to health systems” in five countries affected by the Middle East conflict, including Iran and Lebanon. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced, “WHO issues an appeal for urgent assistance to health systems affected by the Middle East conflict in five countries: Lebanon, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, the Syrian Arab Republic, and Jordan.” The WHO specified that this $30.3 million appeal “covers the period from March to August 2026 and aims to maintain vital health services in countries where health systems are severely tested after several weeks of intensified hostilities, massive population displacements, and increased casualties.”

One Dead in Fire at Abu Dhabi Gas Facility

An Egyptian national died during the evacuation of the Habshan gas complex in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi after a fire caused by falling debris following an intercepted aerial attack, the government announced. Two Pakistani and two Egyptian nationals were slightly injured, while “significant damage was reported on the facilities,” according to the announcement.

Putin and Erdogan Call for Ceasefire, According to Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East, citing the energy crisis stemming from it, during a phone call on Friday, according to the Kremlin. “The leaders emphasized their common positions on the need for an immediate ceasefire and the development of peace agreements considering the legitimate interests of all states in the region,” the statement said.