A United States warplane has been shot down over southwestern Iran, according to Iranian state media, prompting a large-scale search for the missing pilot and crew and escalating tensions in the region.
Following the incident, the US military initiated a major rescue operation, reportedly with support from Israel. Social media footage shows drones, fighter jets, and helicopters flying over the mountainous এলাকায় where the aircraft is believed to have crashed.
Iranian reports claim that at least one pilot ejected from the aircraft using a parachute before the crash. However, it remains unclear whether the jet was brought down by hostile fire or crashed due to technical failure.
In a rare public appeal, Iranian state television urged local residents to report any sighting of what it described as a “hostile pilot” to the authorities, offering a reward. Some broadcasts also included messages encouraging people to “shoot on sight,” raising serious concerns over the safety of the missing crew.
The search is concentrated in the rugged province of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, an এলাকায় spanning more than 15,500 square kilometers. Neighboring regions, including Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, have also been placed on high alert.
This marks the first reported loss of a US aircraft within Iranian territory since the conflict began five weeks ago, signaling a significant escalation.
Meanwhile, Iran has expanded its military operations across the region. It reportedly carried out an हमला on oil infrastructure in Kuwait, causing a massive fire at the Mina al-Ahmadi refinery. Kuwaiti authorities also confirmed damage to a water desalination facility.
In Saudi Arabia, officials said several Iranian drones were intercepted. Missile strikes have also been reported in Israel, while the United Arab Emirates shut down a gas field after debris from intercepted missiles caused a fire.
The conflict has spread to Lebanon, where two civilians were killed in a drone strike near Beirut, amid ongoing Israeli ground operations against Hezbollah.
Since the war began on February 28, more than 1,900 people have reportedly been killed in Iran. Dozens more have died across the region, including 13 US service members.
The situation has also disrupted global energy markets. Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has pushed Brent crude oil prices up by nearly 50 percent, reaching $109 per barrel.
Amid rising international concern, former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has proposed a possible diplomatic solution. In an article published in Foreign Affairs, he suggested that Iran could agree to limit its nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the lifting of all sanctions.
Although Zarif no longer holds an official government position, analysts believe such a proposal is unlikely without approval from Iran’s top leadership.
The crisis is expected to be discussed at an upcoming session of the United Nations Security Council, as concerns grow over the risk of a broader regional war.
