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US, Iran race to find missing crew member from downed military plane
The search is on for one missing US service member while another was rescued after two US warplanes went down in separate incidents including the first shoot-down since the Iran war began nearly five weeks ago.
The incidents occurred just two days after President Donald Trump said in a national address that the US has “beaten and completely decimated Iran”.
One fighter jet was shot down in Iran, officials said. A US crew member from that plane was rescued, but a second was missing, and a US military search-and-rescue operation was underway.
Separately, Iranian state media said a US A-10 attack aircraft crashed in the Persian Gulf after being struck by Iranian defence forces. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive military situation, said it was not clear if the aircraft crashed or was shot down.
The war now entering its sixth week is destabilising economies around the world as Iran responds to the US and Israeli attacks by targeting the Gulf region's energy infrastructure and tightening its grip on oil and natural gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Here is the latest:
Iran says 5 killed in strikes on petrochemical facilities
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The US-Israeli strikes also wounded others in the attack on the facilities in the Mahshahr Special Petrochemical Economic Zone in southwestern Iran, state media cited a provincial security official as saying.
The Israeli military claimed responsibility for the attack on the facilities earlier Saturday and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed in a video statement on X to press ahead with more attacks.
He claimed the complex was “responsible for producing and exporting chemical materials to the regime's armed forces” and that the targeted facilities were “used to produce materials for explosives, ballistic missile, and additional weaponry”.
White House says Trump is working 'nonstop'
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As the clock ticks closer to the US president's Monday deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the White House says Trump is firmly at work.
“There has never been a President who has worked harder for the American people than President Trump,” Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, posted on X. “On this Easter weekend, he has been working nonstop in the White House and Oval Office. God Bless him.”
The president often travels to his Palm Beach, Florida, club on the weekends, but he's staying in Washington for the Easter weekend. Since he delivered his prime-time address on Iran on Wednesday night, the president has held a series of closed-press meetings at the White House.
Gulf visit aimed at solidarity, protecting Italy's interests: Meloni
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Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said in a video message released by her office Saturday that her mission to the Gulf was aimed at showing solidarity with countries "that continue to suffer unjustified attacks by Iran", while also addressing Italian security and energy interests.
Meloni is the first EU leader to travel to the Gulf since the US-Israel war on Iran began, visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on a two-day visit.
"I think it is important for Italy in such a difficult moment to be present in the places where a fundamental part of our security is being decided, and also our economic future," Meloni said in the video shot as she was being driven in the back of a car through Doha, Qatar.
"Because when instability increases in the Gulf, not just the international balance is impacted, but also energy prices," which affect companies' cost and families' purchasing power.
She noted Italy receives 10% of its natural gas from Qatar and the Gulf region supplies 15% of its petroleum needs.
Netanyahu says Israel will continue to 'crush' Iran
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“After we destroyed 70% of its ability to create steel, which is used as the raw material for the weapons used against us, today we attacked their petrochemical factories,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement posted on his X account.
The Israeli military said that earlier Saturday its air force struck a petrochemical complex in Mahshahr, in southwestern Iran. It alleged the complex was “responsible for producing and exporting chemical materials to the regime's armed forces” and that the targeted facilities were “used to produce materials for explosives, ballistic missile, and additional weaponry”.
“I promised you that we will continue to crush the terrorist regime in Tehran, and that is exactly what we are doing,” Netanyahu said.
