One member of the two-person crew of a US F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet has been rescued after the aircraft was shot down over Iran on Friday, reports citing unnamed US officials confirm. The incident marks the first time a US aircraft of this type has been downed in the ongoing conflict, which is now in its fifth week. Details surrounding the rescue operation suggest the helicopter involved in the recovery effort also came under attack, resulting in wounded crew members.
The downing of the F-15E occurred amidst claims by Iran's military that it had intercepted the US aircraft. State media also relayed a public message offering a reward for the capture of any downed pilots, urging citizens to target US aircraft.
The incident unfolds as US and Israeli officials have repeatedly asserted Iran's military capabilities have been significantly degraded, a claim seemingly challenged by these events. Meanwhile, Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf publicly mocked the US following the downing of the jet.
Read More: US Pilot Missing After F-15E Jet Crashes Inside Iran on Friday
Ongoing Search and Broader Conflict Context
While one crew member has been accounted for, a search for the second remains underway. The situation prompted Israel to suspend airstrikes within Iran during the US search and rescue operation.
This event follows earlier reports of US aircraft losses, including at least 16 MQ-9 Reaper drones and three F-15 jets in a separate friendly fire incident over Kuwait. The conflict itself began five weeks prior with coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iran, leading to retaliatory actions across the region. A separate report details strikes on an Iranian bridge that resulted in at least eight fatalities and 95 injuries.
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President Donald Trump has been briefed on the situation, though his public remarks focused on Iran's oil reserves rather than the downed aircraft.
Disputed Aircraft Type and Wider Retaliation
Iranian state media initially claimed to have shot down a US F-35 stealth fighter. However, analysis of purported wreckage footage, according to CNN, suggests the downed aircraft was indeed an F-15. Another US military aircraft reportedly went down on Friday, with its pilot forced to eject outside Iranian territory.
