Downed US jet sparks search operation amid escalating Iran conflict

Iranian and American forces were engaged in a rapid search operation early on Saturday to locate a missing crew member from a United States fighter jet reportedly shot down over Iran, in a development that signals a further escalation in the ongoing conflict.

Iranian authorities said the aircraft, identified as an F-15, had been struck by an advanced air defence system operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Officials claimed the jet was completely destroyed, and search teams had been deployed to locate those on board.

Reports in US media suggested that one of the two crew members had already been recovered by American Special Forces, while the second remained missing. There has been no immediate confirmation from US Central Command, although the White House said President Donald Trump had been briefed on the incident. Speaking to NBC, Mr Trump indicated that the loss would not affect ongoing diplomatic considerations, saying simply that it was part of wartime realities.

An Iranian military spokesperson described the incident as the destruction of a “hostile” aircraft within central Iranian airspace. State-linked media also reported that civilians were being encouraged to assist in locating the missing crew member, with offers of a reward for anyone who could capture a pilot alive.

In a separate claim, Iran said it had also downed a US A-10 ground attack aircraft over the Gulf. US reports indicated that the pilot in that case had been rescued.

The reported downing of the F-15 would mark the first time a US fighter jet has been brought down inside Iranian territory since the conflict began more than a month ago, following coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel. Those initial attacks reportedly killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and triggered a wider regional confrontation.

Since then, the conflict has expanded across multiple fronts, with fresh strikes reported in Iran, Israel, Lebanon and parts of the Gulf. Explosions were heard in northern Tehran, while Israeli forces said they had carried out new operations targeting sites in both Tehran and Beirut.

Civilian areas have increasingly been affected by the fighting. In one location west of Tehran, residential buildings suffered significant damage, with shattered windows and structural impact visible. Local reports indicated that at least 13 civilians were killed and dozens injured in that incident.

Strikes have also increasingly targeted energy and industrial infrastructure, raising concerns about wider economic disruption. The Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas shipments, has been severely affected, with shipping traffic reduced amid heightened security risks.

Data suggests that most vessels still transiting the strait have direct links to Iran, either departing from or heading towards its ports, highlighting the strategic pressure on global energy supply chains.

Military tensions remain high, with Iranian officials warning of further attacks on regional energy facilities in response to threats from Washington. Recent incidents include a drone strike on a refinery in Kuwait that caused fires, as well as damage to power and desalination infrastructure in the region. Bahrain reported minor injuries among civilians from intercepted drone debris, while in the United Arab Emirates, falling fragments from an aerial interception triggered a fire at a gas facility, resulting in casualties.

In Lebanon, Israeli forces said they had struck thousands of targets linked to Hezbollah since the conflict began. Among the latest actions, the Israeli military announced plans to target key bridges in the Bekaa region to disrupt the movement of fighters and equipment. Lebanese state media later confirmed that at least one bridge had been destroyed.

Lebanon’s health authorities reported that more than 1,300 people have been killed and over 4,000 injured since the fighting began, although figures for Hezbollah casualties have not been disclosed.

Amid the intensifying conflict, some diplomatic voices have called for a negotiated settlement. Former Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif suggested that Tehran could consider limiting its nuclear activities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for sanctions relief.

However, with both sides maintaining firm military positions and the situation continuing to evolve rapidly, the search for the missing US crew member has become a focal point in a conflict that is increasingly complex and far-reaching.