A U.S. combat aircraft crashed this Friday near the Strait of Hormuz shortly after Iran shot down a U.S. fighter jet within its territory, according to two U.S. officials who spoke to The New York Times. The A-10 Warthog attack aircraft crashed near the strait almost at the same time the F-15 was hit by an Iranian attack. According to the officials, the sole passenger on the A-10 is safe and is in U.S. custody. However, no details have been provided on how and where the incident exactly occurred. Meanwhile, U.S. forces continue to work to find the second crew member of the F-15, whose situation has not been disclosed. One of the two pilots of that aircraft was recovered by Washington and is receiving medical care, according to two sources familiar with the matter who spoke to CNN. The shootdown in Iranian territory marks a new step in the 'Fury Epic' operation, as named by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump for the joint operation against Tehran, after two days ago the leader promised to attack the Islamic republic 'harshly' in the next two to three weeks. Trump delivered a speech to the nation on Wednesday in which, far from declaring an end to the war, he did not specify details on how the supposed final weeks of the conflict will be carried out, nor about the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
