By Sabiu Abdullahi
A United States fighter jet has been shot down inside Iran, in what officials describe as the first confirmed loss of an American aircraft to Iranian air defences since the conflict escalated.
American officials and Iranian state media both acknowledged the incident. Several US sources also confirmed the development to CNN, backing earlier reports from Iranian outlets that the jet was intercepted and destroyed by local air defence systems.
Reports indicate that the aircraft was an F-15E Strike Eagle. It reportedly went down in or near Khuzestan Province in southwestern Iran, about 470 kilometres from Tehran.
Videos traced to the area near a bridge over the Karoon River showed military aircraft flying at low altitude. The activity is believed to be linked to rescue or support operations after the crash.
US forces have reportedly launched a combat search and rescue mission to find the crew. The aircraft is believed to have carried two pilots.
Iranian state media, including Fars News and Tasnim News Agency, said early efforts to locate any crew members who may have ejected did not produce results.
A report by Fars News also stated that a reward had been offered for information that could lead to the capture of any “enemy pilot or pilots,” which has raised fears about the safety of the missing crew.
Iranian authorities credited the incident to “advanced and newly developed” air defence systems operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Images and videos shared by Iranian platforms appeared to show wreckage from the crash, including what looked like an ejection seat. However, independent confirmation of the materials remains limited.
Initial claims from Iranian sources suggested the aircraft was an F-35, but later assessments and US-based reports identified it as an F-15E.
As of Friday afternoon, there was no official statement from the Pentagon, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), or the White House on the incident or the status of the crew.
Analysts say such silence is common during ongoing combat search and rescue operations in hostile environments.
