WASHINGTON and CAIRO — One U.S. crew member has been rescued after Iran shot down a warplane Friday, Israeli and U.S. media reported, as the war looked set to intensify with U.S. President Donald Trump threatening more attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Two U.S. sources told Reuters the plane was a two-seat F-15E and a search was underway.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said it was combing an area near where the plane came down in southwestern Iran.
The regional governor promised a commendation for anyone who captured or killed the pilot.
Israeli media cited Israeli officials as saying one pilot had been rescued. U.S. broadcaster CBS News reported the same, citing two U.S. officials.
Iranian news agencies said U.S. helicopters were flying low on apparent search missions and carried videos of residents shooting at them.
The Iranian military earlier reported the downed aircraft was an F-35, a single-seater. The Pentagon and U.S. Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The loss underlined the risk still faced by U.S. and Israeli aircraft over Iran, despite assertions by Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that their forces had total control of the skies.
Story by Kanishka Singh and Enas Alashray.
(Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Lincoln Feast and James Mackenzie; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
