US fighter downed in Iran, search underway for crew
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- US confirms fighter jet downed over southern Iran; crew status unknown.
- Iranian authorities offer reward for information on US pilots.
The US military has launched an urgent search-and-rescue operation after Iran reportedly shot down an American fighter jet over southern Iran, officials confirmed Friday. Iranian state media released images claiming the aircraft was an F‑35, while the fate of the crew remains unclear.
US forces mobilize
The New York Times cited US officials saying American forces moved quickly to locate any survivors before Iranian personnel could reach them. The US military has reportedly deployed multiple search-and-rescue teams near Iranian territory in anticipation of such incidents.
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A source confirmed to Reuters that operations are underway to secure the downed aircraft's crew. The Wall Street Journal also reported an active search by the US military.
Iranian reward for pilots
Iranian state television announced a monetary reward for anyone capturing the U.S. pilots. The broadcast addressed local residents in southern provinces, urging them to deliver any captured personnel to authorities for a “valuable reward.”
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Earlier Friday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated it had downed an F‑35 fighter in central Iran, marking the second such incident claimed by Tehran within twelve hours. The Khatam al-Anbiya military headquarters said its air defenses intercepted the aircraft over Markazi province.
Images circulated by Iranian media show wreckage of the aircraft, though the authenticity has not been independently verified.
