The Independent67%
Iran-US war latest: Tehran says at least five killed by US-Israeli attacks during operation to rescue pilot | The Independent 0%
By Stuti Mishra89% Mike Bedigan0% James C. Reynolds78%
4/5/2026, 11:53:47 AM
BS Summary: This article contains 23 faulty reasoning types, including Confirmation Bias, Appeal to Emotion, and Negativity Bias, with Appeal to Authority as the most egregious example at 45.3% saturation with 450 hits. Analysis detected 2,312 faulty-reasoning hits from 994 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 0% and a BS Rank of 0% (0 of 16,813 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 100.00% of the article peer group.
At least five people were killed in US-Israeli attacks during the daring rescue mission to recover a stranded airman from a downed US fighter jet, according to an Iranian official.
A local governor in southwestern Iran, where the crash is believed to have taken place, said they were killed after an attack in the “black mountain” area of Kohgiluyeh, according to the Iranian Tasnim news agency.
“Following last night's enemy attack on the "Black Mountain" area of Kohgiluyeh, unfortunately, 5 loved ones were martyred,” the IRGC-linked agency reported, adding that eight people were also injured.
Donald Trump said early on Sunday that no American personnel were killed or wounded in the rescue operation.
The president today confirmed that both crew members of the F-15E downed over Iran have been rescued, following an operation involving special forces, the CIA and dozens of warplanes, according to officials.
“WE GOT HIM!
My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in US History,” Trump posted on social media.
Israeli strike kills four-year-old girl
A four-year-old girl is one of seven people who have been killed in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon, according to the country's health ministry.
The town of Kfar Hatta near the coastal city of Sidon was struck by the IDF after it told people in the town to evacuate.
US service member missing after Iran shot down has been jet rescued
The US service member who was missing since Iran shot down a fighter jet has been found in a rescue involving "dozens of aircrafts,” president Donald Trump has said.
The crew member had been missing since Friday, when Iran downed a US F-15E Strike Eagle.
A second crew member was rescued earlier.
Trump wrote that the aviator is injured but "will be just fine," adding that he took refuge "in the treacherous mountains of Iran."
Israel 'provided intel for US rescue mission'
An Israeli security official tells Reuters that Israel helped with intelligence in the US rescue of the airman from Iran.
A deception campaign and reaper drones: How US commandos rescued airman trapped in Iran in ‘daring’ operation
US special forces carried out a daring rescue mission to bring back an airman stranded behind enemy lines after Iran shot down a $31 million fighter jet on Friday.
Here’s how it unfolded, from what we know so far:
Iranian children as young as 12 given rifles and sent on patrols: report
Amnesty International reports that children as young as 12 are being handed assault rifles and sent out on patrols amid a drive to recruit more people for the ‘defence of the homeland’.
The Independent reported previously that children were being targeted as part of a campaign by the IRGC.
Now, analysis by Amnesty has found evidence of children wielding assault rifles and standing alongside IRGC and other forces at checkpoints, taking part in patrols and joining militarised rallies.
Legal experts say this could constitute a war crime.
An eyewitness from Rasht said: ““I have seen children wielding weapons.
They wear masks to cover their faces, but it is obvious they are kids.
They have not even grown in height… some appear to be 13 years old at most… I saw [several] children standing in front of mosques [where Basij bases are located], ahead of the actual forces.
I keep thinking their brains aren’t developed like adults and they might actually fire randomly.
I am both scared of them and feel sad for them.”
What to know about the F-15E fighter jet
US forces staged the audacious rescue of an airman behind enemy lines after Iran downed his F-15E fighter jet, officials said on Sunday.
The F-15E Strike Eagle is an American jet derived from the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle.
It was designed in the 1980s to be suitable for all weather, day and night conditions, and to fly at low altitudes.
While primarily an air-to-ground attack aircraft, it can also perform air-to-air missions, carrying AIM-9M Sidewinders, AIM-120 medium-range air-to-air missiles, or AMRAAM.
The E model also has a 20mm gun carrying up to 500 rounds.
The F-15 can fly up to 1,875 mph (Mach 2.5 plus) with a range of 2,400 miles.
It costs $31.1 million per unit.
The jet is flown and operated by a pilot and a weapons system officer.
In this case, the pilot was initially rescued, and the ‘Wizo’ was trapped behind enemy lines.
This marks the fourth Strike Eagle lost since 28 February, but the first taken down by enemy fire.
Iran says five killed, eight injured in US rescue operation
Five people were killed and eight injured in the US mission to rescue a stranded airman, according to the governor of the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad province.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency, citing the governor, reported this morning that five Iran-aligned people were killed last night during the operation at the ‘Black Mountain’ area of Kohgiluyeh.
Eight people were said to have been injured and taken to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Dehdasht for treatment.
CIA involved in mission to find stranded airman: report
The CIA was involved in helping to locate the stranded airman, according to a report.
An unnamed senior Trump administration official told NBC that the CIA passed information about the downed officer’s location to the Pentagon and the White House.
“This was the ultimate 'needle in a haystack,’ but in this case it was a brave American soul inside a mountain crevice, invisible but for CIA's capabilities,” they said.
In full: ‘WE GOT HIM’: Trump declares success after US airman shot down in Iran rescued
A missing U.S. service member who was shot down in Iran has been rescued following a risky mission deep behind enemy lines in mountainous terrain, Donald Trump announced on Sunday.
Read the full story:
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