Welcome to our live coverage of the US and Israel’s war against Iran.
US-Israeli strikes hit an area near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant on Saturday, prompting its foreign minister to warn that the effects of any fallout would be felt most keenly by the country’s Gulf neighbours.
The strikes came as the desperate search continued for a missing US airman whose fighter jet went down over Iran, and as Tehran announced fresh attacks in the region, with the Revolutionary Guards saying they carried out a drone strike on a commercial ship in Bahrain allegedly linked to Israel.
On Friday, Iran shot down two US fighter planes and put a bounty on the capture of any US servicemen. One of two US pilots has since been rescued after they ejected from their respective aircraft.
Iranian state media earlier urged Iranians to hunt down the downed “enemy” pilots.
“If you capture the enemy pilot or pilots alive and hand them over to the police, you will receive a precious prize,” a local TV anchor said.
Footage later emerged of a US A-10 Warthog plane appearing to be blasted out of the sky, after another US aircraft, an F-15E Strike Eagle, was also downed hours earlier.
The jet is believed to have gone down in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province in the southwestern part of the country near Iraq, The New York Times reported.
The F-15E’s weapons systems officer remains missing, as the desperate search stretches into the second day.
Two US military helicopters – that were involved in the search and rescue efforts of the aircraft – were also struck by Iran, but the service members are all safe, a US official has told NBC News.
The attacks come despite Mr Trump saying just days ago that Iran has “no anti-aircraft equipment”.
The capture of an American pilot would be a propaganda coup for Tehran.
One of Iran’s leaders mocked the US after the downing. “Wow, absolute geniuses,” the country’s speaker said.
Mr Trump has defiantly said the US “hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran”.
His comments came hours after a under construction civilian road bridge was damaged near Tehran killing eight, Iran said.
Read on for more updates
