U.S. forces have rescued one of the two pilots who ejected from a fighter jet that was downed by Iranian forces on Friday, according to a new report.
Citing a source with knowledge of the incident, The Jerusalem Post noted that operations continue to locate the second pilot.
The U.S. has not officially confirmed the downing of the jet, an F-15, but officials quoted by different outlets said that the incident had indeed taken place.
Iranian media reported on the shooting hours prior, initially 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 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.
It is the first time since the beginning of the war that a U.S. jet is downed by enemy fire. 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.
The war continues in the meantime, with a recent report claiming that Iran is still able to retaliate against U.S. and Israeli forces despite over a month of combats.
Citing the latest intelligence assessments, CNN detailed that about half of Iran's missile launchers remain operative and the country also has access to thousands of one-way attack drones. Estimates are that about half of its arsenal has not yet been deployed or destroyed.
"They are still very much poised to wreak absolute havoc throughout the entire region," a source told the outlet.
However, the report noted that the assessment could include launchers that are not accessible to Iran because they are buried under rubble but not destroyed.
Elsewhere, CNN noted that most of Iran's coastal defense cruise missiles have not been impacted, an assessment that is consistent with the U.S.'s focus on assets in central Iran, rather than its coast. This despite Tehran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has led to a surge in global oil prices.
President Donald Trump has vowed to continue attacks for at least two or three more weeks, saying in a prime time address on Wednesday that U.S. forces are managing to dismantle "the regime's ability to threaten America or reject power outside of their borders."
