Two U.S. officials say an American fighter jet has been shot down in Iran in what was the first such reported incident in the nearly five-week-old military operation.
Citing unidentified government officials, Reuters reported Friday morning that a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was involved and a search-and-rescue effort was underway.
The condition of the two pilots aboard the aircraft was unknown, according to The Wall Street Journal. One crew member was rescued by U.S. forces, according to CBS News.
President Donald Trump was briefed Friday about the situation, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
Meanwhile, CBS News reported that Iranian state media has offered a “dead or alive” bounty for any residents who locate the U.S. service member or members involved in the incident. The broadcast message also urged viewers to open fire on any U.S. aircraft in their vicinity, according to The Associated Press.
Images and video shared on social media by Iranian state media indicated several U.S. military aircraft — reportedly including two Black Hawk helicopters — were seen conducting flyover missions in a possible effort to locate and recover flight crew members, CBS News reported.
Also on Friday morning, Trump threatened to target additional Iranian bridges and power plants.
Trump wrote in a Truth Social post: “Our Military, the greatest and most powerful (by far!) anywhere in the World, hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran. Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants! New Regime leadership knows what has to be done, and has to be done, FAST!”
According to Reuters, thousands of people have been killed across the Middle East since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28. More than 3,500 — including over 1,600 civilians and nearly 250 children — have been killed in Iran, according to U.S.-based rights group HRANA.
U.S. officials have confirmed 13 U.S. service members have died, including six who were killed when a military refueling aircraft crashed over Iraq. Seven more Americans were killed in action during the ongoing military operation in Iran.
