US official says jet shot down over Iran: report
A US warplane was shot down over Iran and a search and rescue operation for survivors was ongoing, a US official told Reuters.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not provide further details.
The Pentagon and U.S. Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Iranian media reported on Friday that a US pilot or pilots jumped over southwestern Iran.
The television channel in Iran’s Kohkilouyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province said police asked Iranians to hand over the downed pilots live to security agencies and “receive a valuable reward.”
Iranian state media soon shared images online showing US aircraft, including helicopters, planes and drones, flying over the region.
The channel showed metal debris in the back of a pickup truck when making the announcement, but did not provide any other details.
The province is mostly home to the Lur people of Iran, most of whom are farmers.
The southernmost part of the province is the beginning of Iran’s oil fields in the region.
A huge explosion occurred during an air strike in Tehran, the capital of Iran, at the same time on Friday afternoon.
It was not clear what was hit.
Early Friday, Iranian missiles damaged a desalination plant and set fire to a refinery in Kuwait.
The state-run Kuwait Oil Company said firefighters were working to contain multiple fires at the Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery.
with AP
