What you need to know
Thank you for joining our continuing live coverage of the war in the Middle East, as the conflict enters a sixth week.
Here’s a recap of the latest developments:
- One crew member has been rescued after Iran shot down a US F15-E fighter jet, US and Israeli officials say. Search efforts continue for a second crew member. President Donald Trump has been briefed on the matter.
- In response, Iran’s parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf mocked the US, posting on X: “After defeating Iran 37 times in a row, this brilliant no-strategy war they started has now been downgraded from ‘regime change’ to ‘Hey! Can anyone find our pilots? Please?’”
- Trump is asking Congress to boost defence spending to $1.5 trillion, according to a White House outline of Trump’s 2027 budget proposal.
- Australian petrol and diesel suppliers are diversifying their supply chains to bring in new shipments from five continents.
Trump wants Congress to boost defence spending to $1.5 trillion
US President Donald Trump is asking Congress to boost defence spending to $1.5 trillion, the largest such request in decades and the latest signal of the president’s emphasis on US military investments over domestic programs.
The 2027 plans for the Pentagon were confirmed in a White House outline of Trump’s 2027 budget proposal released on Friday (Washington time).
The White House summary says Trump’s proposal would reduce non-defence spending by 10 per cent by shifting some responsibilities to state and local governments.
Even before the US-led war against Iran, the Republican president had indicated he wanted to bolster defence spending to modernise the military for 21st-century threats. Separately, the Pentagon last month proposed $200 billion for the war effort and to backfill munitions and supplies.
AP
‘Can anyone find our pilots?’ Iranian Speaker mocks US after jet downed
Iran’s parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf has mocked the US after Iran shot down an American fighter jet carrying two crew members.
“After defeating Iran 37 times in a row, this brilliant no-strategy war they started has now been downgraded from ‘regime change’ to ‘Hey! Can anyone find our pilots? Please?’” Ghalbiaf said in a post on X.
“Wow. What incredible progress. Absolute geniuses.”
US fighter jet shot down by Iran, one crew member rescued
One crew member has been rescued after Iran shot down a US F15-E fighter jet over the country, US and Israeli officials say.
A search and rescue mission was launched for survivors from the two-person aircraft over southwest Iran on Friday.
Social media footage showed American drones, aircraft and helicopters flying over the mountainous region where a local state-run Iranian channel said at least one pilot ejected from the fighter jet.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that President Donald Trump had been briefed.
It is the first time the US has lost aircraft in Iranian territory and constitutes a dramatic escalation in the war.
AP, Bloomberg
What you need to know
Thank you for joining our continuing live coverage of the war in the Middle East, as the conflict enters a sixth week.
Here’s a recap of the latest developments:
- One crew member has been rescued after Iran shot down a US F15-E fighter jet, US and Israeli officials say. Search efforts continue for a second crew member. President Donald Trump has been briefed on the matter.
- In response, Iran’s parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf mocked the US, posting on X: “After defeating Iran 37 times in a row, this brilliant no-strategy war they started has now been downgraded from ‘regime change’ to ‘Hey! Can anyone find our pilots? Please?’”
- Trump is asking Congress to boost defence spending to $1.5 trillion, according to a White House outline of Trump’s 2027 budget proposal.
- Australian petrol and diesel suppliers are diversifying their supply chains to bring in new shipments from five continents.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
