Iranian forces shot down a US F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet over Iranian territory on Friday, marking the first American aircraft lost to hostile fire since Operation Epic Fury began five weeks ago. One of the two crew members has been rescued by US forces, while search operations continue for the second.
The two-seat tactical fighter was brought down by Iranian air defenses during combat operations. US Special Operations Forces successfully recovered one crew member who had ejected from the aircraft, according to multiple officials speaking on condition of anonymity.
Iranian state media released photographs showing debris that appeared consistent with an F-15 Strike Eagle, including what resembled the aircraft's vertical stabilizer and an empty ejection seat. Videos circulating on social media showed US search and rescue aircraft operating in southwestern Iran's mountainous Khuzestan province.
The rescue operation involved multiple aircraft, including what appeared to be a C-130 transport plane conducting aerial refueling of two helicopters at low altitude. Geolocated footage placed the search efforts near a cable bridge approximately 100 miles inland from the Persian Gulf.
Military forces have launched a search operation to find the American fighter pilot who was hit earlier today
Fars news agency
Iranian television stations in the affected region broadcast appeals to local residents, offering rewards for information leading to the capture of the missing crew member. The messages specifically targeted nomadic peoples and villagers in the remote border areas where the aircraft went down.
A separate incident involved a US A-10 Warthog attack aircraft that crashed near the Strait of Hormuz. The single pilot from that aircraft was safely recovered, though details about whether it was shot down or suffered mechanical failure remain unclear.
The downing represents a significant escalation in the conflict that began when the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran on February 28. Iranian forces have previously claimed to have shot down American aircraft, but this marks the first confirmed loss inside Iranian airspace.
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Israel has reportedly postponed planned strikes on Iranian targets to avoid interfering with the ongoing search and rescue operations. The decision reflects concerns about complicating efforts to locate the missing American crew member.
The F-15E Strike Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed for air-to-ground missions. The aircraft typically carries a pilot and a weapons systems officer, both equipped with ejection seats for emergency situations.