Trump Threatens to Escalate War as U.S. Searches for Crew Member of Downed Warplane
Iran’s military says it has new air-defense systems to attack American aircraft
President Trump threatened further escalation if Iran doesn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz in 48 hours on Saturday, while the Iranian military spokesman said the country is rolling out new, domestically produced air-defense systems to attack aircraft.The heightened rhetoric came as a search-and-rescue operation was under way for an American crew member after Iran shot down an F-15E over its territory on Friday. Another crew member was rescued earlier. Israel has stopped conducting strikes in the area where the jet fighter went down.
The pilot of a second American warplane also hit by Iran flew out of the country’s territory before ejecting and was also rescued, according to people familiar with the matter.
The incidents are a double setback for the Trump administration and raise questions as to how much of Iran’s military has been hobbled