A US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle on July 16, 2020.
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The United States was searching for the crew of a US fighter jet on Friday after it was shot down in Iran, a US official said. told MS NOW.
It’s unclear whether the plane was shot down or crashed for another reason, MS NOW said. The jet was an F-15, which had two crew members, and the whereabouts of the military personnel were unknown, according to MS NOW.
The Pentagon and US Central Command had no immediate comment. President Donald Trump was informed of the downing of the American plane and the search for the crew, a White House official said.
The New York Times said Iran shot down the fighter jet, citing U.S. and Israeli officials as well as Iranian state media, although MS NOW said it had not independently verified this information.
It appears to be the first known loss of a U.S. aircraft in the country since the war in Iran began in late February.
The downing of the plane comes at a delicate time, when the United States has shown little sign of slowing its assault on Iran and reports of possible peace negotiations have failed to produce a breakthrough. The death toll from the conflict is approaching 5,100 people in the Middle East, according to MS NOW.
The war has now lasted for more than a month, stifling tanker traffic across the country. the critical Strait of Hormuz and threaten supplies of crude oil, fertilizer and other essential products.
Trump claimed in a social media post Friday that given more time, the United States could “easily” open the strait, “TAKE THE OIL AND MAKE A FORTUNE.”
Trump also threatened Thursday evening to intensify attacks on Iranian infrastructure. He said the United States “hasn’t even begun to destroy what’s left in Iran,” citing bridges and power plants.
On Wednesday, Trump said the United States would attack Iran “going back to the Stone Age.”
