US fighter jet shot down over Iran; crew member missing
The downed F-15 was hit by Iranian fire over Iranian airspace
ATT Desk Report 
A United States F-15 fighter jet has been shot down over Iran on Friday, the 35th day of the ongoing Middle East conflict, leaving the status of one US service member unknown, according to US authority speaking to CNN.
The downed F-15 was hit by Iranian fire over Iranian airspace. While one crew member was successfully rescued, the fate of the other remains unclear. In a separate incident on Friday, Iran struck a second US military plane, forcing the pilot to eject outside Iranian borders, a US official confirmed.
Iranian sources have publicly claimed responsibility for shooting down the F-15. In a aggressive move, Tehran has announced a reward for any Iranian citizen who locates and hands over the missing American service member to Iranian authorities.
President Donald Trump has yet to make any public statement regarding the ongoing search and rescue mission for the downed crew member. However, in an interview on Friday, the President indicated that the downing of the fighter jet would not derail negotiations concerning the Iran war.
The incident marks a significant escalation in the 35-day-old conflict between the United States and Iran. The downing of a US military aircraft over Iranian territory, combined with Tehran's reward offer, is likely to further stress already tense relations between the two nations.
Search and rescue operations continue as US officials work to conclude the exact location and status of the missing service member. Meanwhile, questions are being raised about the effectiveness of US military operations in the region and the potential consequences of Iran's aggressive actions.
The position remains fluid, and further developments are expected as both sides evaluate their next moves in this quickly escalating conflict.
