A United States fighter jet has reportedly been shot down over Iranian territory, sparking an urgent search-and-rescue mission as tensions in the region continue to rise.
Major US media outlets reported on Friday that American forces had launched efforts to recover crew members after Iranian state-linked media aired footage said to show the wreckage of the aircraft.
According to US officials, one crew member from the F-15E fighter jet has been rescued, while search operations are still ongoing for the second. The F-15E is a two-seat aircraft, carrying both a pilot and a weapons systems officer.
Iran’s Fars News Agency also confirmed that its military had begun searching for the missing crew member, claiming the jet was brought down by the country’s air defence system.
Local Iranian television stations broadcast images believed to be from the crash site, with reports suggesting the aircraft was hit over central Iran and may have gone down in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province. Authorities in the area have reportedly called on residents to help locate the crew, even offering a reward for the capture of any US personnel.
As of the time of reporting, the US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, has not released an official statement.
The incident marks the first reported downing of a US fighter jet within Iranian territory since hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran escalated on February 28, raising fresh concerns about a further intensification of the conflict.
