Iranian state media claimed on Friday that forces downed a U.S. jet, calling on citizens to help find the pilots and "shoot them as soon as you see them." It then changed the directive, offering a reward to anyone who finds the pilots.
The Associated Press noted that the incident is taking place in the Kohkilouyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, some 300 miles southwest of Tehran.
Several videos posted on social media show what appear to be U.S. aircraft over the area conducting search and rescue missions.
Footage shows a U.S. Air Force C-130 deploying flares in South West Iran pic.twitter.com/zu6qmaaovz
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) April 3, 2026
Axios noted that this would be the first time since the beginning of the war that a U.S. jet is downed by enemy fire. Images posted on social media and Iranian TV suggest the jet is a F-15 fighter.
Describing the terrain, AP noted that police and security services have a small presence in the rural region where the pilots may have ejected, which span almost 6,000 square miles. It is home to about 600,000 people, most of whom are farmers.
WILD FOOTAGE 🔴
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) April 3, 2026
New footage shows USAF operating deep and low inside Iran as search and rescue efforts reportedly continue. pic.twitter.com/3O8sNZdnqK
The U.S. Central Command has not commented on the allegations.
