US Fighter Jet Shot Down Over Iran, Search Ops for Pilots Underway

The CNN report said that three US sources had confirming Iranian state media reports of the downing of the American jet. A CNN analysis of images published by Iranian media matches that of an F-15 aircraft, the news outlet said.

The Wall Street Journal cited the Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, which said on Friday that the American jet was targeted in Iran.

In a post on X, the Iranian state media IRIB shared a map of Iran where it circled the area where two American pilots are being searched for since morning.

CNN reported it wasn't immediately clear where in Iran the jet went down. It added that the video geolocated by CNN showed multiple low-flying military aircraft over Khuzestan Province in central Iran, where one aeroplane was seen flying low over the ground while two helicopters followed closely behind - a formation consistent with an air-to-air refuelling operation. As per CNN, the video was taken on a bridge over the Karoon River, which is around 470 km south of Tehran.

The incident would mark the first time a US aircraft has been shot down over Iran during the conflict, CNN reported.

US outlet Axios reported that the search and rescue operation for two crew members was underway, citing a source familiar with the incident.

Iranian media published pictures that appeared to show the wreckage of an F-15.

Previously, F-15s were mistakenly shot down in a friendly fire incident by Kuwaiti air defences. As of now the US military and the White House have not commented on the situation or the status of the pilots.

Meanwhile, in a separate X post, IRIB wrote, "Iran has shot down an F-15E 'Strike Eagle' belonging to the 494th Fighter Squadron 'LN' based at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom Debris of the tail fin confirm the downing. The fate of the pilots is currently unclear."

This is a developing story.

- ANI