This is a developing story. <\/p>\n
A United States F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet has been shot down by enemy fire over Iran, U.S. officials confirmed. <\/p>\n
One of the aircraft\u2019s two crew members has been rescued<\/a>, Israeli media first reported. U.S. officials confirmed the reports in statements to CBS News and Axios. <\/p>\n A search for the second crew member is ongoing. <\/p>\n White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Military Times \u201cthe president has been briefed\u201d on the downed fighter jet.<\/p>\n The Pentagon and U.S. Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment. <\/p>\n Officials in Iran, meanwhile, called for the search and capture of any surviving crew members of the jet, according to reports by the semi-official ISNA news agency and the Young Journalists Club. <\/p>\n The governor of one of the Islamic Republic\u2019s provinces stated that anyone who captures or kills the crew would receive a special commendation. <\/p>\n Video circulating on social media appeared to show a low-flying U.S. Air Force HC-130 refueling a pair of HH-60G Pave Hawks over Iran while conducting a search for the downed crew.<\/p>\n Iranian state media on Friday shared images<\/a> of aircraft debris alongside claims that Iran had downed a U.S. F-35 fighter jet. <\/p>\n However, images of the aircraft\u2019s tailfin, specifically the red stripe on its vertical stabilizer, are consistent with markings used by the 494th Fighter Squadron<\/a>, 48th Fighter Wing, based at RAF Lakenheath.<\/p>\n Iran also shared an image of an Advanced Concept Ejection Seat<\/a> allegedly from the shot down F-15E. <\/p>\n The search-and-rescue effort inside Iran during an ongoing conflict greatly raises the stakes for the United States.<\/p>\n U.S. Central Command on Tuesday issued a statement denying claims that \u201cIran\u2019s Revolutionary Guard Corps downed an \u2018enemy\u2019 fighter jet over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cAll U.S. fighter aircraft are accounted for,\u201d the CENTCOM statement read. \u201cIran\u2019s IRGC has made the same false claim at least half a dozen times.\u201d <\/p>\n The location of the downed jet has not yet been confirmed. <\/p>\n The shoot-down marks the first time during Operation Epic Fury that a manned U.S. aircraft has been brought down by enemy fire. <\/p>\n A U.S. F-35 fighter jet was reportedly hit by enemy fire<\/a> during a combat mission over Iran on March 19, but was able to make an emergency landing at a U.S. air base in the region. <\/p>\n Six U.S. airmen were killed on March 12<\/a> when their KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq during combat operations.<\/p>\n