F-15 shot down iran
Downing of US aircraft: The condition of one American service member is still uncertain after their F-15 fighter jet was brought down over Iran. According to US officials who spoke to CNN, the second crew member was successfully rescued. In another event, a US military aircraft was also hit by Iranian forces, a US official confirmed. So far, the United States has lost at least seven manned aircraft during the conflict.
Rescue mission underway: US forces have initiated search-and-rescue operations to locate the service member from the downed F-15, sources said. At the same time, authorities in Tehran have announced a reward for anyone who finds the individual and turns them in.
Ongoing strikes: Several petrochemical facilities in southwestern Iran have been targeted, according to state media reports. Iranian media also confirmed that at least one person was killed in an incident in Tehran. Meanwhile, the Israeli military stated that emergency teams were being dispatched to locations in central Israel following reports of impacts.
After downing two American fighter jets, and thus one F-15 pilot still missing in Iranian territory as of Saturday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has launched a manhunt in a southwestern region of the country. The regional governor has also promised a commendation and reward for anyone who captures or kills “forces of the hostile enemy”.
One crew member from the two-seat F-15E was rescued on Friday, while efforts to locate the second individual were still ongoing, according to US officials.
This marks a major setback for the United States, as it is the first instance of US fighter jets being shot down in the conflict initiated by the US and Israel with strikes on Tehran on February 28. In fact, it is the first time in 23 years that an American military aircraft has been downed in any conflict.
The situation could now escalate into a hostage crisis for the US in the sixth week of the war, coming shortly after President Donald Trump warned of bombing Iran “back to the Stone Age.” Iran has replied with both missile strikes and online messaging, resulting at minimum in a military and public opinion deadlock.
