Middle East crisis live: Trump says F-15 crew member missing in Iran is ‘safe’ after ‘dozens of aircraft’ sent to recover him

Key Points:

• US President Donald Trump confirmed on Truth Social that US forces successfully rescued the second crew member, a colonel, from a downed F-15 fighter jet over Iran, describing the operation as one of the most daring in US history with no American casualties.
• Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israel, Kuwait, and the UAE, targeting economic and military infrastructure, while Gulf nations’ air defenses actively engaged these threats amid escalating conflict in the region.
• Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum for Iran to make a deal or reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran's military dismissed as a "helpless" and "stupid" threat, warning of retaliatory consequences.
• The conflict has intensified with Israeli and American strikes on Iranian strategic and civilian sites, including petrochemical plants and academic institutions, while Lebanon faces heavy casualties and evacuations due to ongoing Israeli military actions.
• Regional and international actors, including South Korea and former UN nuclear watchdog director Mohamed El-Baradei, have expressed concern over the escalating war and its impact on energy security and regional stability.