U.S. officials confirmed that an F-15E fighter jet was shot down over Iran on Friday. The two-seat aircraft went down after being engaged by Iranian forces, and one crew member was later retrieved by American forces, officials told CBS News.
The F-15E carries a pilot and a weapons systems officer. The pilot was rescued after ejecting and was flown out by U.S. helicopters, which came under small-arms fire during the recovery and sustained wounded personnel, officials said. The second crew member, the weapons systems officer, remains missing and U.S. forces are continuing search-and-rescue efforts.
An A-10 Warthog that participated in the combat rescue mission was damaged after taking fire; its pilot ejected over the Persian Gulf and was successfully recovered, the officials said. Two helicopters that helped recover the F-15E pilot landed safely despite receiving small-arms fire, and all service members rescued or injured in the operation are receiving initial medical treatment and will be moved for further care.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for downing the U.S. aircraft. State media and social posts showed images and video of low-flying U.S. aircraft — including at least one C-130 and two Black Hawk helicopters — over central and southwest Iran as forces searched for the crew.
Earlier in the conflict, the U.S. military reported losing multiple drones over Iran and suffered noncombat losses: CBS News previously reported at least 16 MQ-9 Reaper drones lost since the start of the war, and three F-15 jets were downed in a friendly-fire incident over Kuwait with no casualties.
The jet’s loss comes amid repeated U.S. claims of air superiority. U.S. military and administration officials have said they have significantly degraded Iran’s air and missile defenses and limited Tehran’s ability to mount aerial operations. CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper recently said the campaign had made ‘‘undeniable progress’’ in restricting Iranian naval and air activity.
Iranian state-affiliated outlets also reported that a bounty was being offered for anyone who captured U.S. aircrew and handed them over to police, and an Associated Press-cited broadcast urged viewers to fire on U.S. aircraft seen overhead.
CBS News reported these developments based on U.S. officials and the Iranian claims. Jennifer Jacobs contributed to this report.