This is a developing story.
A United States F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet has been shot down over Iran, a U.S. official told Reuters. A search-and-rescue effort for survivors involving numerous U.S. aircraft is currently underway.
The official, who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity, did not provide any additional details of the engagement.
The Pentagon and U.S. Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Officials in Iran, meanwhile, called for the search and capture of any surviving crew members of the jet, according to reports by the semi-official ISNA news agency and the Young Journalists Club.
The governor of one of the Islamic Republic’s provinces stated that anyone who captures or kills the crew would receive a special commendation.
Video circulating on social media appeared to show a low-flying U.S. Air Force HC-130 refueling a pair of HH-60G Pavehawks over Iran during what appear to be search efforts for the downed crew.
Iranian media on Thursday shared an image of an Advanced Concept Ejection Seat allegedly from the shot down F-15E. The prospect of U.S. pilots being alive and on the run inside Iran during an ongoing conflict greatly raises the stakes for the United States.
U.S. Central Command on Tuesday issued a statement denying claims that “Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps downed an ‘enemy’ fighter jet over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.”
“All U.S. fighter aircraft are accounted for,” the CENTCOM statement read. “Iran’s IRGC has made the same false claim at least half a dozen times.”
The location of the downed jet has not yet been confirmed.
The shoot down marks the first time during Operation Epic Fury that a manned U.S. aircraft has been brought down by enemy fire.
A U.S. F-35 fighter jet was reportedly hit by enemy fire during a combat mission over Iran on March 19, but was able to make an emergency landing at a U.S. air base in the region.
Six U.S. airmen were killed on March 12 when their KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq during combat operations.
On March 1, three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were shot down by a Kuwaiti F/A-18 in a friendly fire incident. All six F-15 crew members ejected and were safely recovered.
A total of 13 U.S. service members have been killed during combat actions against Iran.
As of March 31, 348 U.S. personnel have been wounded, Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins, U.S. Central Command spokesperson, told DefenseScoop. Of those injured, the majority have since returned to duty. Six remain seriously wounded.
Reuters contributed to this report.
J.D. Simkins is Editor-in-Chief of Military Times and Defense News, and a Marine Corps veteran of the Iraq War.
Nikki Wentling is a senior editor at Military Times. She’s reported on veterans and military communities for nearly a decade and has also covered technology, politics, health care and crime. Her work has earned multiple honors from the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, the Arkansas Associated Press Managing Editors and others.
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