A U.S. Air Force fighter jet was brought down over Iran, according to a U.S. official cited by Reuters, who confirmed that search efforts were underway but did not provide further details on the aircraft or crew.
Iranian media have claimed that a U.S. aircraft was shot down during operations linked to the current conflict, releasing images that appear to show wreckage consistent with an F-15E Strike Eagle. The photos include debris such as sections of the tail and wing, although their authenticity has not been independently verified.
A video shared on social media appears to show two crew members ejecting from an aircraft, consistent with the F-15E’s two-seat configuration. Additional footage reportedly shows U.S. aircraft flying at low altitude in the area, which could indicate ongoing combat search and rescue operations.
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According to reports, Hercules transport aircraft and helicopters have been deployed to support those efforts. The condition and location of the crew remain unknown.
Iranian officials initially claimed that a fifth-generation F-35 had been downed, but available imagery points instead to an F-15E. Analysts note that such discrepancies are common in early reports and may reflect confusion or deliberate misinformation.
U.S. Central Command has not issued a formal statement on the type of aircraft involved, and the Pentagon has not released additional information.
If confirmed as an F-15E loss, the incident would mark the first known combat loss of a U.S. manned aircraft in the current conflict. It would also be the fourth F-15E lost by the U.S. Air Force in recent operations, following three aircraft shot down by friendly fire over Kuwait, where all crew members ejected safely.
The F-15E remains a key platform in U.S. strike operations, designed for long-range precision missions with a two-person crew, but increasingly exposed to modern air defense systems in contested environments.
