AGENCIES

Iran stepped up its attacks on Israel and targets across the Gulf yesterday, as US President Donald Trump warned Washington had yet to begin “destroying what’s left” of Iran’s infrastructure.

Meanwhile, a push by Gulf states to the UN Security Council to open the key Strait of Hormuz yesterday met with Chinese opposition.

As the war continues to roil the global economy, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization yesterday warned that global food security might take a big hit if the war continues for a long time.

The war started more than a month ago with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, triggering retaliation that spread the conflict throughout the Middle East.

Tehran yesterday claimed to have downed a US F-15E fighter jet over southwestern Iran.

A spokesperson for Iran’s military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said the jet had been “completely destroyed” and that the pilot’s chances of survival were low, in comments carried by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency.

Initially, the Iranians claimed the jet was an F-35, but US military sources later briefed the media that it was an F-15E that had been downed.

Both the US and Iranian militaries have launched a search for the pilot. Iranian citizens have been urged to join the hunt by authorities.

SEE PAGE 9 COL 3