Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Apr 3: The United States has launched a search-and-rescue operation after a US F-15E Strike Eagle was reportedly shot down by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) over southern Iran, with conflicting reports emerging on the fate of its two crew members.

According to multiple reports, both crew members — a pilot and a weapons systems officer — ejected from the aircraft. While some Iranian sources claimed one of them may be in custody, other reports suggested that efforts were underway to locate and rescue them.

An Israeli media report indicated that one crew member had been successfully rescued and evacuated from Iranian territory, though there was no official confirmation.

The The New York Times, citing US and Israeli officials, reported that American forces initiated a combat search-and-rescue mission before Iranian forces could reach any survivors.

US President Donald Trump has been briefed on the development, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, as rescue efforts continued.

Iranian media outlets, including Tasnim News Agency, earlier reported that at least one pilot had ejected after the aircraft was downed.

In a separate development, the IRGC claimed it had also shot down a US F-35 Lightning II over central Iran, asserting that the aircraft was destroyed completely.

Meanwhile, reports said authorities in Iran’s Kohkilouyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province urged locals to help locate the pilot, with some media outlets even suggesting rewards for capturing the crew.

Visuals circulating on Iranian media showed debris believed to be from the downed aircraft, along with aerial activity in the region, possibly linked to US rescue operations.

The situation remains fluid, with no official confirmation yet on the exact status of both crew members.