Iranian and American forces are searching on Friday for the crew of the first American combat aircraft to crash in Iran since the beginning of the war, shot down by Iranian anti-aircraft defense.
American media announced that one of the two crew members had been rescued.
After a long silence, the White House merely stated that Donald Trump had been “kept informed” of the loss of the aircraft, which is believed to be an F-15E fighter-bomber, according to reports including the New York Times (NYT).
According to a spokesperson for the Iranian armed forces, the aircraft was destroyed by an anti-aircraft defense system belonging to the Revolutionary Guards, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic. “Further investigations are underway,” the spokesperson said.
The NYT and the Washington Post claim to have authenticated photos and videos circulating on social media and Iranian news outlets showing American helicopters and aircraft flying at low altitude in the area.
Efforts to find the second crew member are ongoing.
The incident represents a significant setback for American air combat following weeks of intense bombings, indicating that the Islamic Republic still has anti-aircraft capabilities.
In a Western fighter pilot’s perspective, the first task in case of ejection in hostile territory is to hide and try to signal to fellow pilots.
Since the start of the war, no American soldier has been killed or captured on Iranian soil, but 13 military personnel have died in various countries in the region.
The escalating situation has led to economic concerns, with fears of global inflation due to fluctuating oil prices as a result of Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Russian and Turkish leaders have called for an immediate ceasefire, citing energy crisis concerns.
Despite the tensions, the situation has had economic repercussions worldwide, with countries such as Bangladesh and Pakistan implementing measures to conserve energy and combat rising fuel prices.
