One US service member has been rescued after an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down over Iran, in the first such incident since the conflict began. The second crew member remains missing, according to US officials familiar with the situation.
The aircraft, from the US Air Force's 494th Squadron based at RAF Lakenheath in the UK, was brought down over central Iran. Iranian state media initially claimed an F-35 had been hit, but aviation experts identified the wreckage as that of an F-15E. The Pentagon is coordinating search efforts amid fears that Iranian forces may capture the missing crew member.
President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident, the White House confirmed, but declined to discuss the rescue mission. He stated the event would not affect negotiations with Iran, saying, "No, it's war. We're in war." Iran has reportedly rejected a US proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire.
Footage from Iran showed US C-130 Hercules and HH-60 Pave Hawk aircraft conducting low-level operations in the south-west of the country, near Behbahan in Khuzestan province. An Iranian businessman offered a $60,000 reward for capture of the crew, while a local TV presenter urged residents to hand over any "enemy pilot" to police.
Social media images of an ejector seat, likely from the downed jet, suggested at least one crew member ejected safely. Iran's Tasnim news agency reported the pilot had been taken into custody, but this remains unverified. The incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, which has seen over 12,300 targets bombed by the US alone.
