Iran claims shooting down US jet, announces bounty to capture pilot
Iranian media reports that the US dispatched several Black Hawk helicopters as well as a Hercules 130 for the search and rescue of the pilot of a downed F-35 fighter jet.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) has claimed that it shot down a US F-35 jet in central parts of the country.
Meanwhile, Iranian state TV reported on Friday that whoever catches the pilot alive and reports it to the authorities will be rewarded.
A US fighter jet was shot down over Iran, and a search is underway for the crew, a US official has told Reuters.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not offer further details. The Pentagon and US Central Command have not commented yet.
Axios reported that a US fighter jet had been shot down by Iran.
Citing Iranian media and a source familiar with the incident, Axios said if confirmed, it would be the first time since the beginning of the war that a US jet was downed by "enemy" fire.
The incident marked the second time Iran has claimed the downing of a US F-35, along with multiple claims of downing other US fighter jets since hostilities started in late February.
Earlier, Iranian state media released photos and videos that allegedly show debris from the crash site, including what appears to be parts of the aircraft and one of the ejection seats.
Initial assessments by experts based on the imagery suggest the aircraft may have been an F-15 fighter jet.
Iran's Fars news agency said the army had launched a search for the pilot of a US fighter jet hit by an air defence system.
"Military forces have launched a search operation to find the American fighter pilot who was hit earlier today," Fars said.
Iranian media also reported that the US forces dispatched several Black Hawk helicopters as well as a Hercules 130 for the search and rescue of the pilot of a downed F-35 fighter jet.
The efforts of the US forces were "unsuccessful", Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency claimed on its Telegram channel, citing unspecified sources.
A local television station also aired footage of what it said was the wreckage of a downed US jet.
It said the aircraft was targeted over central Iran and may have gone down in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, citing a police statement.
The statement also urged residents of the area to join the hunt for the pilot or pilots, offering a bounty for the capture of any US servicemen.
US Central Command on Thursday rejected Iran’s claim that it had shot down a US fighter jet over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.
The denial came after the IRGC said it downed an "enemy" fighter jet over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated since Israel and the US launched attacks against Iran on February 28.
Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and infrastructure damage, while disrupting global markets and aviation.