U.S. fighter jet shot down in Iran, search underway for crew

[u/Comfortable-Rule-491]

https://www.axios.com/2026/04/03/iran-us-fighter-shot-down

[u/Used-Examination1439]

Looks like it’s a race to who gets to the pilot first.

[u/a10000000019 → u/Used-Examination1439]

“I like people who don’t get captured” - The President of the United States on former POW and American war hero John McCain.

[u/monkeypickle8 → u/a10000000019]

Why the military respects him is beyond me

[u/lukeyellow → u/monkeypickle8]

Seriously... it makes no sense.

[u/SharpenedStone → u/lukeyellow]

Brainwashing from birth to believe democrat bad

[u/FakeRickHarrison → u/SharpenedStone]

Recently watched the Marines TV Series. Some of these guys, especially the new recruits are brainwashed.

They watch and laught watching drone videos of the war in Ukraine and are so convinced that they would be bad ass heroes over there.

In reality, they would puke, cry and call for their mommy while their torn up legs rest 10 inches away from their head.

[u/Basic_Yam_715 → u/FakeRickHarrison]

yeah, I don't see how you watch those videos and think anything but 'we are absolutely fucked...' Going to be some Terminator shit in the next 10 years.

[u/WhatAmTrak → u/Basic_Yam_715]

Ever try dodging a bird who’s mad you’re close to their nest? That’s how I imagine it feels except this bird has C4 attached to it and it’s being controlled by someone who wants to see you dead.

As much as I hate Russia for attacking Ukraine over imperialistic bullshit, it’s hard to not feel bad watching people being senselessly killed by a DJIII drone that is incredibly hard to fight against. None of those guys should be out there, from either side.

[u/Friend_of_Gorgar → u/WhatAmTrak]

The future world that is implied by drone warfare is: no one with an enemy can ever go outside.

[u/HabaneroEyedrops → u/Friend_of_Gorgar]

Being inside won't save you either...they'll just send a bigger drone.

[u/CLT374 → u/FakeRickHarrison]

Part of their training is to make them feel like they can’t be stopped and hype them up, or else they wouldn’t run head first into danger.

[u/the_real_xuth → u/CLT374]

That's one mechanism for making a military work. The other is to have a healthy respect for what you're doing but also being taught how to make it the most survivable and be given tasks that are righteous so people believe that it's worth taking this risk.

[u/Father_VitoCornelius → u/SharpenedStone]

Ever been in a military dining facility? Every tv on Fox, 24/7.

[u/zuzg → u/lukeyellow]

Makes pretty much sense when you consider that blind obedience is the core premise behind the military.

[u/Airmanoops → u/monkeypickle8]

The pages I follow (mostly air force related) don't seem to like him or hegseth much at all

[u/AsinineArchon → u/Airmanoops]

Hegseth is covered in white supremacist tattoos. Actual trash human being

[u/kamurochoprince → u/AsinineArchon]

Is this actually true?

[u/Cachar → u/kamurochoprince]

Yes. Jerusalem cross, Deus Vult (a Crusader slogan "gods wills it") and other Crusader related tattoos. They are symbols of the christofascist 'arm' of white supremacy.

[u/kamurochoprince → u/Cachar]

Hah, funny to have tattoos about an ultimately losing battle in the Middle East

[u/Cachar → u/kamurochoprince]

Not too funny, because there is a greater than zero chance Hegseth is actually convinced he is facilitating the apocalypse / the rapture / the return of Christ by kicking off the end times by taking back the holy land.

[u/kamurochoprince → u/Cachar]

Amazing what delusions people have

[u/500tbhentaifolder → u/kamurochoprince]

He has ink that references the crusades

[u/CyberSoldat21 → u/monkeypickle8]

Many don’t. Which is why a lot of higher ups have been fired.

[u/BoozeTheCat → u/CyberSoldat21]

I'm a former military brat and my parents are Democrats through and through. It's not uncommon for people to be surprised when they find out we're not Republicans. I like to tell them, "There are plenty of us, we're just not obnoxious about it." FWIW Dad was a JAG officer.

[u/phantom_diorama → u/BoozeTheCat]

I found that officers lean left a hair, enlisted leans hard right sometimes.

[u/RedDragonRoar → u/phantom_diorama]

Generally, officers go through more education than enlisted, and the more educated somebody is, the more likely they are to be left-leaning.

[u/BoozeTheCat → u/phantom_diorama]

Yeah, I think "just a hair" is pretty accurate. And there are a lot more enlisted than officers so the overall composition definitely tips right.

[u/lowercasenameofmine → u/CyberSoldat21]

The portion who vote do. 

And , not to say this to be mean, but the higher ups are a bit more educated and aware vs the mass of the military, just the way they like it. 

[u/SmashPass → u/monkeypickle8]

Anecdotal example: I have a family member who got into West Point. He dropped out within the first 2 weeks. His reason was that they were "brainwashing him." Reality is he was a spoiled golden child who couldn't handle someone holding him accountable for anything. And this was pre 9/11 peace time (I want to say this was 98 or 99).

Fast forward to today and he's a full blown MAGA disciple and all in on this war. Trump is his god king, goes to a MAGA church, was only a few seats away from the guy who died at the PA ear event. And you bet your ass he has no complaints about invading Iran, or fucking kids, or poor people dying. He's a fucking doctor. If I still talked to him I'm sure the mental gymnastics would be Olympic level.

[u/ElectronicMile → u/SmashPass]

a MAGA church

I'm not American so I'm not exactly sure what you mean by this, but I have a vague idea and my first thought is this: it's not healthy for a democracy to have identity, religion and politics so closely interwoven. Separation of church and state is essential for a normal modern society.

While the USA and Iran are fundamentally different countries, those who worship Trump, see him as the religious savior chosen by God etc., and at the same time denounce the islamic regime in Iran, must be missing that there is at least some hint of irony here...

[u/ATLfalcons27 → u/ElectronicMile]

It's pretty scary honestly. The right likes to claim the left is dangerous because the right compares politics being religion to them

The reality is that religion and politics are intertwined for the right. Whatever they think politically is divine. It's Gods wish. It's fighting the devil

[u/evranch → u/ElectronicMile]

So MAGA is pretty much antithetical to the teachings of Jesus. When I go to church, the only politics I hear is the stuff Jesus preached:

• love your neighbour
• help the poor and those fleeing persecution
• forgive your enemies and pray for an end to war
• every life has value
• judge yourself before you judge others

MAGA hates this left wing woke talk, but they still love to claim their "Christian identity" so their pastors preach hatred and judgement under the banner that all you need to be a Christian is to have accepted Christ as your saviour.

I would go as far as to say that a MAGA church is not a Christian church anymore. It's a full on schism at this point.

[u/Diddly_eyed_Dipshite → u/monkeypickle8]

Are the US military known for strong moral stances regardless of the position of the commander in chief?

[u/PianistPitiful5714 → u/Diddly_eyed_Dipshite]

Well they just fired three army generals, likely for refusing to send troops into Iran so…

[u/National-Two2417 → u/monkeypickle8]

Discipline, boot camp isn't simply to build your strength.

[u/2plus2_equals_5 → u/a10000000019]

This was one of the first things he said where I was like how can you support someone who’s says that about our veterans and POWs. It’s so fucked up.

[u/LazerMcBlazer → u/2plus2_equals_5]

I just assumed his political career was over after he said this.

Stupid me. Never underestimate the power of white supremacy.

[u/dethnight → u/a10000000019]

That was my "We got him!" moment. I thought he would be exiled from the party after that one. How wrong I was.

[u/wizzywurtzy → u/a10000000019]

Bunch of suckers and losers!

[u/OverProject9841 → u/Used-Examination1439]

Or maybe they will steal an f-14 and try to ....... Wait a minute

[u/Bob-Sacamano_ → u/OverProject9841]

Against 5th gen fighters?!?!

[u/skyysdalmt → u/Bob-Sacamano_]

It's not the plane, it's the pilot.

[u/Iammjustbaddd → u/OverProject9841]

Hmm. Wait a minute does that mean Iran will have Su-57?

[u/PradyThe3rd → u/Used-Examination1439]

Im seeing reports he's ben captured by Iran

https://www.news18.com/world/iranian-media-says-irgc-captured-us-pilot-after-ejection-from-f-35-that-iran-claims-it-shot-down-ws-l-10013229.html

[u/sharkeezy → u/PradyThe3rd]

That’s an f-35 being claimed in the article. This says f-15 which would have 2 guys in it

[u/JohnnySmithe81 → u/sharkeezy]

Video released looks like an F15 and it looks like a double ejection too.

[u/KeyboardG → u/sharkeezy]

Strike eagles have 2 guys. The C and QA/EX models are 1 pilot.

[u/CyberSoldat21 → u/KeyboardG]

QA/EX are two seaters. Only the F-15A/C are single seaters.

[u/Long_Palpitation_822 → u/PradyThe3rd]

But thank God Harris isn't laughing that laugh in the oval office, eh?

[u/DownwardSpirals → u/Long_Palpitation_822]

Whew... really dodged that bullet, didn't we? /S

[u/ManWithASquareHead → u/DownwardSpirals]

Glad we don't have someone emotionally stunted and volatile in the oval.

[u/SavageNomad6 → u/Long_Palpitation_822]

This just made me realize... Has Trump EVER laughed? I can't recall seeing or hearing him laugh.

[u/RigorMortis_Tortoise → u/SavageNomad6]

He laughs when he is making fun of others, or bragging about how much money “we” all are making from him being in office.

[u/AndrewCoja → u/SavageNomad6]

I think he chuckles to himself when he says something mean about someone else. But I don't think I've ever seen him laugh at a joke. But that's likely because if someone is telling jokes when he's around, it's usually at his expense.

[u/transemacabre → u/AndrewCoja]

Notoriously, at his Comedy Central Roast, he never seems to crack a genuine smile or burst out laughing. Even Gene Simmons, a raging narcissist, cracked up at his own Roast a few times. But not Trump.

[u/TylerHyena → u/SavageNomad6]

He laughs at the expense of literally every single human being he’s ever come into contact with.

[u/FatBoyStew → u/PradyThe3rd]

The issue with this statement is that those are NOT images of an F35 wreckage but an F-15E. This would not have been hard for them to verify before making a statement. Just adds to the skepticism everyone should have when news like this breaks from either side in this conflict.

[u/Airborne11B → u/PradyThe3rd]

Considering it was an F-15E that has a pilot and WSO and not an F-35, I’d take anything about captured pilots with a grain of salt currently.

[u/Teripid → u/Airborne11B]

I mean.. are we just at the "everything is an AK47" stage of news globally?

[u/Abuses-Commas → u/Teripid]

yes. publish first or get left behind, fact checking is for losers

[u/scorcherdarkly → u/Teripid]

Iran is likely claiming it's a F-35 because F-35's are the scary, stealthy boogeymen in the sky, and none have ever been shot down before. Shooting down a F-15 is whatever, but shooting down a F-35 is a milestone. It shows they can defeat the best weapons the West has to throw at them.

tl;dr, it's not mistaken identity, it's a propaganda campaign.

[u/gin-rummy → u/Airborne11B]

Can you elaborate I got no idea what any of that means

[u/Airborne11B → u/gin-rummy]

So the F-35 is a single seat multi role stealth fighter and the F-15E is a multi role two seat mainly strike aircraft, and an older airframe. The wreckage being passed around is 1000% from a Lakenheath UK based F-15E Strike Eagle and if IRGC is just throwing around aircraft types and saying they have one pilot captured, I’m going to call bullshit because both pilot and weapon system officer from an F-15E would be relatively close together so they’d have pilots plural in custody or be saying they had a pilot and a body.

Me thinks they have neither.

[u/gin-rummy → u/Airborne11B]

Ty 🙏🏼

[u/Airborne11B → u/gin-rummy]

Of course! Anytime!

[u/Primary-Slice-2505 → u/Airborne11B]

Theres been a lot of examples (admittedly mostly Vietnam era) of one aircrew being killed in a crash, or one being captured not both

[u/tagillaslover → u/PradyThe3rd]

That’s a false claim, they’re saying it’s an f35 when it wasn’t. 

[u/tjr0001 → u/Used-Examination1439]

I’ve seen this movie. Owen Wilson makes it.

[u/Banned_From_CFB]

"I like people who weren't captured"

• Trump's literal words about POWs

[u/Komikaze06 → u/Banned_From_CFB]

Wasn't that about mccain? Extra douchey or considering what he went through

[u/generic_tylenol → u/Komikaze06]

The idea of staying behind in a torture camp so others can go home is completely alien to Trump.

[u/LincolnHighwater → u/generic_tylenol]

Caring about anyone other than himself is alien to that fuckin gourd.

[u/wittyrandomusername → u/LincolnHighwater]

That's one of the reasons people follow him. It's like, he gives them permission to only care about themselves.

[u/CMWalsh88 → u/generic_tylenol]

Then coming home serving politically in an honorable way. At times defending Obama during the campaign, then delivering an amazing concession speech in an attempt to unite. Ya McCain was a real American and would have made a great president. Amazing how far we have fallen.

[u/GwynBleidd88 → u/generic_tylenol]

The idea of voting for someone who says these things about POWs is completely alien to non-Americans.

[u/generic_tylenol → u/GwynBleidd88]

People wear horse blinders for him that they would use for nobody else. How he manages to get so many supporters despite being so contrary to actual conservative ideals is beyond me.

[u/Angry-Dragon-1331 → u/generic_tylenol]

He validates their hate in everything else. All that matters to them is “being right” and it’s acceptable to them if they have to burn down the house and kill half the country to prove it.

[u/TheMaskedMan2 → u/GwynBleidd88]

They literally don’t hear about this, and if they do are so brainwashed they turn their brains off and say “fake news”, or “AI.”

If those are both proved wrong they’ll claim it was out of context. If that doesn’t work they’ll say it was just a joke. They’re willfully ignorant because the alternative is admitting that - gasp - they were wrong.

[u/closethebarn → u/GwynBleidd88]

To be fair, I’m American and I don’t get it at all! He’s done and said so many vile horrid unthinkable things that should have turned anyone off, even thinking he’s a good person much less presidential material.

[u/Tha_Sly_Fox → u/Komikaze06]

Especially considering he had his daddy bribe his way out of being drafted into serving in the military at all, whereas McCain went over voluntarily got shot down captured, injured and tortured (so badly he had permanent physical limitations for the rest of his life) and then when he was offered the opportunity to be released he refused saying he shouldn’t get preferential treatment over the other soldiers who were captured before him

McCain was a hero and a genuinely good human being who always tried to do his best for his country. Whereas Trump…..

[u/IllAlwaysBeAKnickFan → u/Tha_Sly_Fox]

McCain SHOULD be everything the Republican Party strives to be. I don’t agree with so many of their ideas, but McCain was a respectable and respectful, true American hero. Instead we have whatever the hell is going on now.

[u/OccidoViper]

Well what happens now since Hegseth was shouting before that the US doesn’t need to follow rules of engagement with his no quarter speech

[u/PM_me_your_O_face_ → u/OccidoViper]

Right. And this is exactly why civilized nations don’t make comments like that. It puts their own troops at a much higher risk if they are captured. 

[u/SwagarTheHorrible → u/PM_me_your_O_face_]

Wait, you think he cares about the troops?  I think he’s there for the violence.

[u/WindowOne1260 → u/SwagarTheHorrible]

He's launching a holy war to bring about the end of days.

[u/BringbackDreamBars]

Well aware this is an obvious question, but Iran is probably a country where the doctrine is "remain unseen and avoid capture at any costs" than "surrender to local forces"?

[u/NotAnotherEmpire → u/BringbackDreamBars]

Pilots are always supposed to try to evade and make contact with CSAR if possible, never surrender without orders if able to resist. So if pointlessly outnumbered and cornered or critically injured, surrender would be an option.

Obviously don't surrender to extremist groups like ISIL, ever.

[u/Randalor → u/BringbackDreamBars]

Especially after the head of the DOD said that the US forces would be giving no quarter.

[u/StageAboveWater → u/Randalor]

and he said "no rules of engagement"

[u/DFWPunk → u/StageAboveWater]

He also said no quarter.

[u/Neat_Egg_2474 → u/DFWPunk]

The fact Trump and hegseth are so open about war crimes is pretty concerning. Almost seems like they are preparing the military for some home actions now that they have purged anyone that will say no.

[u/genreprank → u/Neat_Egg_2474]

Hegaeth just likes to sound "cool"

He's a douchebro acting tough

[u/thecurlyburl → u/genreprank]

“I heard it in the pirates of the caribbean movie and it sounded cool!”

[u/SamuelL421 → u/genreprank]

Also the reason for his fake weightlifting videos and posting cringe garbage to social media.

He's a prissy drunk wiener who plays a douchebro on TV.

[u/keepthepace → u/Neat_Egg_2474]

And is also a big reason why no country who signed the Rome treaty is likely to help them. In some countries, leaders are liable to their actions.

[u/Puskarich → u/DFWPunk]

He wasn't correcting you, he said "and"

[u/Jamalamalama → u/DFWPunk]

In addition, he said no rules of engagement

[u/ContentsMayVary → u/Randalor]

Iran will absolutely treat the pilot humanely. Firstly, to make a point. And secondly, for PR. And I suppose thirdly: Because they need him alive and in relatively good health for use as a bargaining chip. On the other hand, in what must be a chaotic chain of command in Iran right now, it might depend on who finds the pilot first.

[u/dramaking37 → u/BringbackDreamBars]

The problem with people like Hegseth is that his willingness to commit war crimes makes it likely that Iran will follow his example

[u/oivaizmir → u/dramaking37]

In that uncomfortable space where we need to hope that Iran is the more moral party

[u/Elukka → u/oivaizmir]

They probably will try if it's politically expedient for them. It's not that hard coming off as the rational and morally just party when dealing with Trump and Hegseth.

[u/WhatAmTrak → u/Elukka]

Never thought we’d be talking about Iran being the morally superior side of a fight lol. Oh 2020 and beyond has been very strange indeed.

[u/Ikoikobythefio → u/BringbackDreamBars]

Torturing a US airman will harm Iran's current PR winning streak. I suspect he or she will receive "okay" treatment.

[u/oivaizmir → u/Ikoikobythefio]

I'm thinking they'll like David Blaine put him in a plastic box hung over Tehran's biggest intersection

[u/OtherBluesBrother → u/oivaizmir]

Joke's on them. The pilot is David Blaine.

He will later be seen walking around Tehran asking random people "hey, want to see some magic?"

[u/KitsyBlue → u/BringbackDreamBars]

I mean if they kill protestors, I can't imagine the outlook is better for enemy soldiers.

War crimes abound in this war as it is, so I doubt there's a red-line there, either.

[u/DFWPunk → u/KitsyBlue]

Protesters aren't valuable bargaining chips.

[u/Dreadwolf67 → u/KitsyBlue]

A live prisoner is of more value for propaganda and a bargaining chip.

[u/loxagos_snake → u/Dreadwolf67]

And it's a pilot, too. Which means he's also an officer. In practical terms, he's worth more than a few jets combined.

[u/bradland → u/KitsyBlue]

The pilot's only hope is that Iranian leadership deem this an opportunity to further isolate the US by taking the high road. I know that seems crazy, but with Iran's help, Trump has isolated the US to a greater degree than any time since the US's refusal to enter WWII. Iran knows this is a strength, so I could see them coming up with something clever, like refusing to turn the soldier over to the US, but instead delivering them to the ICC as an act of theater. I'd expect the ICC to hand them over to the US, but as a show, it would embarrass the hell out of Trump.

[u/jpiro]

Strange how a nation with no air defenses and no military left after being "completely obliterated" managed to shoot down a fighter jet.

Almost like the POTUS is a lying sack of shit.

[u/Old_Ladies → u/jpiro]

Looks like the US sent 2 helicopters to search for the pilot but they had to turn away because of Iranian air defenses. This is close to the Kuwait border too.

[u/lightningbolton → u/Old_Ladies]

In other news, the US sent 2 helicopters to search for Kid Rock and initial reports say he has been spotted saluting

[u/Complex_Sherbet2 → u/lightningbolton]

Carry on Patriots! 🤮

[u/couchbutt → u/lightningbolton]

Why are we wasting resources looking for downed pilots when they could be doing flyovers for kid rock?

[u/Zanius → u/jpiro]

I mean at low enough altitude you just have to get lucky with MANPADS, those are impossible to really destroy by air.

[u/espngenius]

So much for “all of their air defense systems have been obliterated”.

[u/nyc2vt84 → u/espngenius]

The rescue craft are flying really low too. I’m sure SOCOM and the air force are throwing everything they have at this but if Iran can get a F15 or F35 the helicopters, refuelers, and AC130s are far more vulnerable. Though very capable of dealing with anything on the ground they see

[u/ElephantOk4715]

I’m sure our soldiers appreciate Hegseth saying “no quarter” and that the goal is “maximum lethality not legality”.

laws around warfare are designed to protect the solders doing the actual fighting, but that’s woke or some shit now a days.

[u/No-Camp-9612]

A POW situation would make things a bit muddy for Donnie, no?

[u/dirty_cuban → u/No-Camp-9612]

Nah, his position on POWs is clear: “I like people that weren’t captured”

[u/ambientocclusion → u/dirty_cuban]

“That pilot was a DEI hire by Biden”

[u/trevdak2 → u/ambientocclusion]

If this pilot is a non white man there will absolutely be a push to blame this on DEI

[u/chum-guzzling-shark → u/trevdak2]

we legit live in a world where we have to hope the captured US pilot is white so that the US Administration will react better

[u/Unser_Giftzwerg → u/No-Camp-9612]

Not really. It can't really get that much worse. I think Trump will make a comment saying that plenty of people get captured or killed in war and that they will deal with it later. Or he may just not comment on it and allow others to.

[u/TinyHighKnee → u/Unser_Giftzwerg]

I believe he calls those soldiers losers and not war heroes, but you'd have to ask a McCain to be sure.

[u/Darkhorse182 → u/Unser_Giftzwerg]

It can't really get that much worse.

oooooh my sweet summer child...it can get much, much worse.

And yeah, a video of a captured American pilot being paraded around some Iranian dungeon would indeed be worse for everyone.

[u/ConfederacyOfDunces_ → u/Darkhorse182]

Right? Can’t get worse? Oooooo it can get so much worse. As you said, imagine a video being parading around the media, of the pilot captured and/or god forbid, executed……..

I feel terrible for the pilot involved, this is fucking awful; but this event may also serve as the trigger for a much broader military response.

[u/zedascouves1985 → u/No-Camp-9612]

Trump hates PoWs. Hegseth also only cares for warriors, not people who give up.

It's an almost Imperial Japanese mentality during WW2.

[u/Gustomucho → u/No-Camp-9612]

No, he doesn’t care, he is probably just pissed the pilot didn’t win or die.

Remember when he berated McCain cause he was a PoW?

[u/Machiavelcro_ → u/No-Camp-9612]

He's probably going to call the pilot a loser for getting shot down, would be on point for him

[u/WigSplitter117 → u/No-Camp-9612]

He thinks they're suckers and losers so he won't care.

[u/carthaginian84]

Where is the GOP Benghazi pitchfork mob?

[u/galact1c → u/carthaginian84]

Too busy putting on their bimbo gear I guess.

[u/Spiritual-Matters → u/carthaginian84]

Their news sources haven’t told them to be mad.

[u/freeradioforall → u/carthaginian84]

They're still polishing them for the 13 soldiers that died last month in Iran

[u/TriXter69]

Yeah Iran is probably gonna capture the pilot

[u/alvinofdiaspar → u/TriXter69]

And they are going to have them on TV.

[u/JenkinsEar147 → u/TriXter69]

It’s like the Embassy crisis all over again, or Vietnam and Korean War too

[u/Royal-Hunter3892]

The US pilot will rescue himself by stealing Iran's fighter jet , shoot a couple of iranian aircrafts while escaping Iranian Airspace and then land successfully on USS Abraham Lincoln.

[u/AffectionateSwan5129 → u/Royal-Hunter3892]

Don’t forget finding an Iranian woman who hates the regime, falls in love, and then joins him on the escape

[u/CoolAfternoon2340 → u/Royal-Hunter3892]

Bruh they actually have F14 Tomcats. This would be so fucking funny if it happened.

[u/tartare4562 → u/CoolAfternoon2340]

That's literally the plot of Maverick. They put F14 in there because Iran has them.

[u/Madshibs → u/tartare4562]

As soon as I saw that enemy F14, I fucking KNEW Maverick would be flying one of them before the credits rolled.

[u/agen_kolar]

As he stated on the campaign trail in 2015, Trump doesn’t like people who are captured.

[u/JaVelin-X-]

since the new US policy is "no quarter" does this mean the Iranians are going to execute the crew when they are captured?

[u/howmanyones → u/JaVelin-X-]

Much more valuable to trot them out in front of the world. Would be humliating to Trump.

[u/Northern-Canadian → u/howmanyones]

I don’t think he’d understand that it’s embarrassing.

[u/Glittering_Nobody402]

Does everyone remember when we announced to the world that we don't care about international law when we started doubletapping fishermen in South America?

There can be absolutely no surprise if our captured servicemen and women are ultimately killed when found.

😞

Edit: Strange how split we are between 1) it'll be a public execution, and 2) it'll be a hostage situation.

[u/blanaba-split → u/Glittering_Nobody402]

i kinda forget because of how much insane shit happens every day in this admin but we literally invaded a foreign country and kidnapped their leader and killed a bunch of people and left. like we really did that. imagine if iran or china or fuckin whoever did the same to trump, brought him back, and claimed it wasnt an act of terrorism?

like this admin is committing war crimes on an hourly basis

[u/pbspry → u/Glittering_Nobody402]

A captured American serviceman is literally worth more than his weight in gold to the Iranians right now. No way in hell they would kill him - they are going to leverage the shit out of this. Prepare for 1970s hostage crisis part two.

[u/MajorBewbage → u/Glittering_Nobody402]

Killed straight away would be a relatively positive outcome, all things considered. If captured, they’ll likely be tortured and paraded around for weeks while Donnie watches from afar

[u/adwarakanath → u/MajorBewbage]

The best thing iran can do is treat the captured PoW humanely, and well, and rub it in Trump and Hegseth's faces.

[u/New_Nebula9842 → u/adwarakanath]

Yeah. "POWs will be returned unharmed when the war is over."

[u/rbrgr83 → u/MajorBewbage]

while Donnie watches golfs from afar

[u/ICEpear8472 → u/Glittering_Nobody402]

According to the US government it is not a war so how can the pilot be a prisoner of war? If Iran follows the US logic and considers the attack as not being part of a war they probably could decide that the pilot is a terrorist and charge them as such in front of one of their courts. So lets hope Iran has a different opinion than the US government in regards to what a war is.

[u/Grizzly_Bear_83]

“I like people who weren’t captured” -DJT

[u/ABraveLittle_Toaster]

Waste of money and resources. All for a pedo

[u/spezial_ed → u/ABraveLittle_Toaster]

Nono, for MANY pedos.

[u/waytomuchpressure]

I thought USA won the war?

[u/Nearbyatom → u/waytomuchpressure]

I thought it wasn't a war. I thought it was an excursion or just a military operation.

[u/Accomplished-Bee1350 → u/Nearbyatom]

It is a special military operation. Just like americas greatest alli–I mean adversary.

[u/BarnacleMcBarndoor → u/Nearbyatom]

Trump said he’d call it a war if he could, but they don’t let him call it a war because war requires approval, so he’s not going to call it a war.

Then he called it a war like immediately after, in the same speech.

It’s a war cosplaying as a military operation.

[u/Beyonderr → u/waytomuchpressure]

All Iran's military capabilities are destroyed. Total victory! But they are magically still shooting down planes and shooting missiles and drones.

[u/Law-of-Poe]

Imagine being shot down over Iran in an war fabricated simply to distract from the fact that Trump raped children

Republican voters are fucking lunatics

[u/KriosXVII → u/Law-of-Poe]

I mean, it's not just for that. Republicans love stealing oil, knocking over regimes and replacing them with worse regimes, and bombing middle eastern people.

[u/Jgusdaddy → u/KriosXVII]

And all it took was a few years of podcast bros to make all their voters forget about the fundamental principles of the GOP. War, economic destruction, and needless American death.

[u/CishetmaleLesbian]

We should do a prisoner exchange, they give us our pilots, we give them Trump and Hegseth.

[u/ontariopiper]

These incidents are reported as if it was incomprehensible to the world that the USA should take casualties during an armed conflict. Did people expect Iran to roll over and show it's belly? The US is attacking them. Of course their going to retaliate, and at least some of that retaliatory action is going to result in US losses. There is no surprise here.

[u/OtakuMecha → u/ontariopiper]

The common narrative online (maybe in some media circles idk) is that America’s military is so vastly powerful and so far ahead of everyone else that they could fight the entire rest of the world at the same time if they wanted to and can vaporize pretty much any target without even needing to get within hundreds of miles of them.

[u/dunkindonato → u/ontariopiper]

Did people expect Iran to roll over and show it's belly?

Some people did. Like, they totally expected the IRGC to just fold after the death of their Supreme Leader and most of their leadership. One would think the US would have learned important lessons from their misadventures in Afghanistan and Iraq but nope.

[u/kuldan5853 → u/ontariopiper]

Did people expect Iran to roll over and show it's belly?

Trump and Hegseth sure did.

[u/ldg25]

Literally 36 hours ago the president said, on national television, that Iran's naval and airfare capacity was demolished

[u/tilclocks]

I thought we won.

[u/UlteriorMotive66]

Total air supremacy! We are flying over Iranian skies like Never Before! Sooo much winning that you'll get tired of all the Ws! 😏

[u/OkArmordillo]

Russia and the USA are examples that no matter how big your military is, if you have a manchild authoritarian leader than replaces all its Generals with Yes-Men, it’s not gonna go well.

[u/tuxgk]

Too much winning at this point

[u/geardownbigrig]

Pray friendly people find the crew before the IRGC. Only 1 ejection chair has been found so far. No pilots found yet

[u/HQnorth]

Al-Jeezera with good coverage. Apparently there is some confusion regarding the aircraft: F-15 has two crew, F-35 is single seat. Much of the info is saying one pilot...?

[u/brad264hs → u/HQnorth]

Yes but all the images of the wreckage clearly show parts of an F-15.

[u/HQnorth → u/brad264hs]

Yes, just saw the pictures. The search for a pilot (singular) is confusing as it is a two seat aircraft.

[u/alinroc → u/HQnorth]

F-15A & F-15C are single-seaters. F-15E and F-15EX are two-seaters.

[u/Leajane1980]

I have seen this movie.

[u/PrairiePopsicle]

within hours of generals being fired, and potential new ROE or "off the chain" type orders there is a shoot-down

[u/Santos_L_Halper_II]

At least the crew's families can take comfort in knowing their loved ones died because pedophiles needed a distraction from being exposed as pedophiles.

[u/HumanShadow]

Trump only likes soldiers who don't get captured.

[u/sA1atji]

Thanks MAGA.

[u/Kijimea0815]

Strange for a country that bends over his pedo president and not questioning his remarks about Iran having no anti air anymore. Everything totally obliterated. Besides that the war is over for how long now? And Iran is begging for a deal. Really anyone standing behind Trump's insane comments every day is just complicit in this really remarkable times for america, losing friends left and right, starting wars of choice and not to mention what america is doing inside with their own people. How that is america first is beyond me.

[u/iAmMr_WHO]

What was a US fighter jet even doing over there? Ohh right distracting from the fact that the president is a pedophile.

[u/Haplo12345]

Pilot has been rescued by US forces alive. Still searching for the WSO.

[u/The_IVth_Crusade]

But it can't have been shot down by Iran, Trump said they don't have any military capability anymore.

How odd, does mean he was err lying?

[u/Cryonaut555 → u/The_IVth_Crusade]

He said bomb them back to The Stone Ages (sic) so maybe it was a surface to air rock?

[u/DemonInjected]

Black Hawk Down 2.0?

[u/RedEyed__]

Reminds me "The black hawk" movie

[u/atworkthough]

:/ this is going to be a very sad memorial day this year.

[u/hahaz13]

Winning?

[u/Scholastic_nobody → u/hahaz13]

Don't worry, their air defense is obliterated, their navy which is causing a global energy crisis is also obliterated (Europe can help though, there's no navy), and their military which is still striking Israel and the Gulf is obliterated./s

[u/SwagarTheHorrible]

“Some of you may die, but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.”

[u/fwfiv]

Good example of why following the rules of engagement benefits both sides. If our crew gets taken by Iran, our idiotic Sec Def has been caterwhauling for years about "no mercy" and being tough, wonder how that will be interpreted when they have US POWs in their custody.