American fighter jet downed over Iran, 1 crew member rescued, U.S. officials say
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- A U.S. F-15E fighter jet was shot down over Iran on Friday, with one crew member rescued by American forces, while a search and rescue mission for the second crew member is ongoing.
- The Islamic Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for downing the jet, and Iranian state media circulated images suggesting U.S. aircraft were conducting recovery operations in central and southwest Iran.
- This incident follows earlier losses of U.S. military equipment in the region, including at least 16 MQ-9 Reaper drones over Iran and three F-15 jets shot down in a friendly fire incident over Kuwait, with no casualties reported previously.
- Despite U.S. military claims of air superiority and significant degradation of Iran's air and missile defenses, the downing of the F-15E challenges assertions of uncontested control of the skies.
- Iranian state TV has offered a reward for capturing U.S. pilots alive and urged citizens to shoot at any U.S. aircraft flying overhead, indicating heightened tensions and public mobilization against U.S. forces.
