Two rescue helicopters have been sent out to look for an American pilot who has gone missing behind enemy lines in Iran. Armed local tribesmen have also been mobilized to search the desert for U.S. soldiers.
With the search operations entering their second day on Saturday, efforts to locate the pilot ramped up, as reported by Fox News.
The pilot had to bail out of an F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft that was shot down over the Kogileh and Boyer Ahmad provinces near Iraq on Friday.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the downing of the fighter jet, and the Iranian government even offered a reward of $60,000 for the pilot’s capture, calling on local villagers to assist in the search.
A local television broadcaster announced, “If you capture the enemy pilot alive and turn him in to the police, you’ll receive a significant reward.” This directive comes on the heels of prior orders to shoot down pilots if encountered.
Videos circulating on social media displayed villagers and members of the Bakhtiari tribe searching across the mountainous, dry terrain for the pilot.
The regime-aligned Tasnim news agency reported that villagers, particularly tribal members, are actively patrolling the region’s mountains and plains, armed and prepared to confront any enemy forces they might encounter.
According to the Telegraph, these tribesmen aimed hunting rifles at two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters.
The downed aircraft has been confirmed as an F-15E Strike Eagle involved in the ongoing U.S.-Israeli air offensive against Iran that commenced on February 28.
Officials indicated that a pilot was rescued within hours and is currently receiving medical care after a daring operation undertaken by U.S. special forces.
The situation surrounding the missing pilot remains unclear.
Experts had anticipated that the U.S. military’s advanced night vision capabilities would facilitate recovery missions during nighttime hours.
Meanwhile, hostilities continued on Saturday as Israel targeted critical infrastructure facilities in Tehran.
The Israel Defense Forces targeted petrochemical sites in southern Iran, claiming they were involved in the production of ballistic missile components.
This assault reportedly halted production lines and incurred billions of dollars in damages, according to the Times of Israel.
Additionally, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization stated that an Israeli airstrike struck close to the Bushehr nuclear facility, resulting in a security guard’s death and damage to the site.
A drone suspected of Iranian origin also reportedly caused damage at Oracle’s headquarters in Dubai, while Israel claimed to be tracking additional Iranian missiles heading towards them.
