Trump’s reaction came in four words on Truth Social on Friday afternoon: “Keep the oil, anyone?” He did not mention the F-15E Strike Eagle that Iran had brought down earlier in the day.
A U.S. official said Iranian fire downed the two-seat jet. One crew member was rescued, and U.S. forces were still looking for the other, officials told NBC News. The Pentagon and U.S. Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Military Times “the president has been briefed.”
Rescue aircraft hit
The rescue effort itself came under fire, a U.S. official said. An A-10 Thunderbolt sent to support the search was struck, flew into Kuwaiti airspace, and crashed after its pilot ejected. The pilot is safe. Two Black Hawk helicopters were also hit by Iranian fire, and their crews were unharmed. Video on social media appeared to show a low-flying HC-130 refueling a pair of HH-60G Pave Hawks over Iran during the search.
What Iran said
Iranian media published photos of wreckage along with a claim from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that it had downed the jet. Nour News, an outlet linked to the Guard, said an advanced new air defense system of the IRGC Aerospace Force destroyed the plane over central Iran. State media first called it an F-35. The red stripe on the tailfin matches markings of the 494th Fighter Squadron, 48th Fighter Wing, based at RAF Lakenheath, the Defense News account noted. Peter Layton, a former Australian air force officer, told NBC News the “structure looks like an F-15.” Iran also shared an image of an ejection seat it said came from the aircraft.
Officials in the southwest moved fast to turn locals into searchers. A channel tied to state television said a U.S. pilot had bailed out over a rural stretch of southwestern Iran, and an anchor asked residents to hand any “enemy pilot” to police. A governor said anyone who captured or killed the crew would get a special commendation. One representative of merchants and businesses reportedly offered the equivalent of $60,000. On Saturday, the governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province denied that the second airman had been found and arrested, Mehr news agency reported, and the regional IRGC leadership issued a similar denial.
A war with no deal in sight
Asked in a short phone interview whether the shootdown would hurt talks to end the war, Trump said, “No, not at all. No, it’s war.” He has said the U.S. is negotiating with Iran. Iran says no direct talks are taking place. Trump has also pushed Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital trade route, and has sent more troops to the Middle East.
This is the first manned U.S. aircraft brought down by enemy fire in Operation Epic Fury, according to Defense News. It undercuts the claim of American control over Iranian skies. Central Command had said on Tuesday that “all U.S. fighter aircraft are accounted for” and that the IRGC had made the same false claim at least half a dozen times.
Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed in combat against Iran. As of March 31, 348 had been wounded, Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins told DefenseScoop. Most returned to duty, and six remain seriously wounded.
Sources
- U.S. fighter jet downed over Iran, one pilot rescued, official says
- US F-15E fighter jet shot down over Iran
