Iranian forces shot down a U.S. fighter aircraft over the country, state media said on Friday.
The well-being of the crew remains unknown, but there is reportedly a search-and-rescue operation underway for the pilot. U.S. Central Command has not commented publicly on the matter. Several U.S. outlets confirmed Iran state media’s report, citing anonymous U.S. officials. Pictures of what appeared to be an ejected fighter pilot’s seat flooded social media.
One of the two pilots have reportedly been rescued, while efforts continue to find the missing pilot.
President Donald Trump has been briefed on the reported incident, a White House official told the Washington Examiner.
If confirmed, this would mark the first time in the war, which began more than a month ago, that a U.S. aircraft was downed over Iranian territory. A crew flying an F-35 on March 19 had to make an emergency landing at a regional U.S. airbase after “flying a combat mission over Iran,” Capt. Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesman, told the Washington Examiner at the time.
While the United States has carried out more than 12,000 strikes on targets against Iran, Iran’s military has shown it can still carry out attacks on U.S. troops and assets, and infrastructure in Gulf countries.
“The upcoming days will be decisive; Iran knows that and there’s almost nothing they can militarily do about it. Yes, they will still shoot some missiles, but we will shoot them down,” War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday during his latest press briefing.
Last week, multiple troops were injured in an Iranian attack on a Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. A key U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry aircraft was destroyed in the attack as well. One American service member, of the 13 who have been killed since the war began, died from injuries he sustained in an earlier attack on that base.
In early March, Kuwaiti air defenses accidentally shot down three American F-15E Strike Eagles aircraft, but all six pilots ejected themselves.
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Trump said in a Wednesday night address that he believes the war could continue for 2-3 more weeks, and he has threatened to escalate the conflict.
Christian Datoc contributed to this report.
