US F-15 jet downed over Iran; one crew member rescued, Trump briefed

A US fighter jet has been shot down over Iran, with a search currently under way for its crew. A rescue operation was under way for the crew of the US fighter jet that went down over Iran, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

The White House confirmed that US President Donald Trump has been briefed on the incident. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president had been informed about the downed aircraft.

“The President has been briefed,” she said.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that one of the two American pilots aboard the downed F-15E fighter jet has been rescued and evacuated from southern Iran.

According to US officials cited by CBS News, one crew member from the downed F-15 fighter jet has been rescued. The crew member was recovered by US forces, the officials said. Reuters also reported that US forces rescued one crew member after the fighter jet was downed over Iran, citing two US officials.

According to Iranian state media, the F-15 fighter jet was shot down near Dehdasht city in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province in southwestern Iran. Reports said the aircraft was hit by a surface-to-air missile, and the pilot ejected before the jet crashed. Iranian forces have reportedly launched a search operation to locate the pilot.

Images of debris from the downed aircraft posted on social media reportedly show wreckage consistent with that of an F-15E Strike Eagle. The aircraft is a dual-role fighter jet designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

In the ongoing conflict with Iran, such jets are likely used in defensive counter-air operations to intercept Iranian drones and cruise missiles. In its strike role, the aircraft can deploy laser-guided and GPS-guided precision munitions as well as other bombs.

The F-15E typically carries two crew members — a pilot in the front seat and a Weapons Systems Officer in the rear seat responsible for selecting targets and programming weapons for specific attack profiles.

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Separately, Pakistan-led ceasefire efforts between the United States and Iran have reportedly hit a dead end. The current round of diplomatic efforts by regional countries, led by Pakistan, to broker a ceasefire between the two nations has stalled, according to mediators. Iran has reportedly told mediators it is unwilling to meet US officials in Islamabad in the coming days and considers Washington’s demands unacceptable. The development marks a setback to regional mediation efforts aimed at opening direct talks between Tehran and Washington to end the ongoing conflict, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

The cause of the aircraft being brought down remains unclear. According to the report, if the jet was shot down by Iranian forces, a surface-to-air missile could be the most likely reason. Short-range infra-red guided MANPAD systems also remain a serious threat as they can be moved quickly.

Meanwhile, the governor of Iran’s Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province said the priority was to capture any downed US crew alive, while reports said local traders offered a reward of 10 billion tomans, or about £50,000, for information on the American pilot.