President Donald Trump received a briefing on Friday regarding the crash of an F-15 fighter jet over Iran, according to reports.
This incident marks the first confirmed loss of a U.S. military aircraft since Operation Epic Fury commenced on February 28.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) along with state media claimed responsibility, stating they shot down an American fighter jet in central Iran, particularly in the mountainous regions of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad provinces.
While early reports indicated the aircraft was an F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter, subsequent images released by Iranian media suggest it was likely an F-15E Strike Eagle from the 494th Fighter Squadron, stationed at Lakenheath Air Force Base.
The cause of the crash remains unclear. Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, is expected to provide more information soon.
The F-15 is a two-seater, and as of now, the status of the pilot and the weapons systems officer on board is unknown.
Local footage has shown an HC-130 and an HH-60 Black Hawk conducting low flights over Iranian territory, possibly indicating a search for the crew.
For weeks, U.S. officials have asserted that both the U.S. and Israel maintain “complete control of Iran’s skies,” even deploying conventional B-52 bombers to Iran, which highlights their belief that Iran’s air capabilities have been largely diminished.
“We’ve been conducting this military operation… for 32 days,” Trump noted in a recent speech. “This country has been eviscerated and is essentially no longer a threat.”
“They don’t possess effective anti-aircraft systems,” he continued. “Their radar systems are entirely gone. We are unstoppable.”
Aviation specialists analyzing footage suggest that the aircraft is consistent with the F-15 model, pointing to its twin vertical stabilizers, broad fuselage, and twin-engine layout as distinctive characteristics. Notably, the F-15 has widely spaced engine intakes and rectangular air intakes that set it apart from other U.S. fighter models.
This is breaking news and updates will follow.
