Washington, April 4:
A major escalation in the ongoing conflict has been reported after US military aircraft were shot down over Iran, triggering an intense combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) operation, with one crew member rescued and another still unaccounted for.
A F-15E Strike Eagle was brought down during operations over Iranian territory, according to initial reports. Both crew members aboard the two-seat fighter jet, comprising a pilot and a weapons systems officer, ejected before the aircraft crashed. While one has been located alive, efforts are ongoing to trace the second individual, whose condition remains unclear.
In a separate incident on the same day, a A-10 Thunderbolt II was also lost in the region. The pilot of the aircraft was successfully rescued, sources familiar with the situation indicated.
Preliminary US assessments suggest that both aircraft may have been hit by Iranian fire, though official confirmation is awaited. Iranian authorities, meanwhile, claimed responsibility for downing an American fighter jet and circulated images purportedly showing wreckage of an F-15E. However, the authenticity of these visuals could not be independently verified.
Officials from the US Central Command and the Pentagon have not issued immediate statements on the incidents.
Videos circulating on social media, reportedly from southwestern Iran, showed US aircraft flying at low altitudes, possibly engaged in CSAR missions. The US Air Force is known to operate specialised rescue units in the region equipped with HC-130J Combat King II aircraft and HH-60 helicopters.
According to sources, at least one rescue helicopter involved in the mission came under Iranian fire but managed to land safely, underscoring the risks involved in the ongoing operation.
The incidents mark the first confirmed combat loss of US crewed aircraft in the current phase of the conflict. Earlier, on March 19, a pilot of an F-35 Lightning II sustained shrapnel injuries after the aircraft was damaged during a mission over Iran, though the jet managed an emergency landing.
Separately, three F-15E aircraft were reportedly downed by friendly fire over Kuwait on March 2, with all six crew members ejecting safely. In another incident, a KC-135 tanker crashed in western Iraq following an apparent midair collision, resulting in the deaths of six airmen.
Iranian state media described the downing as a significant moment, claiming it marked the first time Tehran had shot down a US fighter jet since the conflict began weeks ago. Reports also indicated that Iranian forces were actively searching for the missing US service member in the area where the aircraft went down.
Despite the setbacks, US officials have maintained that American forces continue to hold air superiority over large parts of Iran and have carried out strikes on more than 12,300 targets so far.
The situation remains fluid, with rescue efforts ongoing and the potential for further escalation in the region.
