DefenseA 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.
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.
