Video: Khorramabad military base destroyed in airstrikes

The governor of southwestern Iran’s Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, Yadollah Rahmani, urged residents to pursue the crew of a downed US fighter jet, saying those who “capture or kill” them will be specially commended, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported.

“Residents, especially in tribal areas, should make every effort to locate the enemy pilots, with capturing them alive the priority,” the governor said.

“Individuals who succeed in capturing or killing hostile enemy forces will be specially commended by the governorate,” he added.

Reuters cites a US official as saying one American fighter jets was shot down over Iran and that a search operation is underway for the crew.

This confirms earlier reports that had circulated amid the intensifying conflict between Washington and Tehran.

Details about the aircraft and the fate of those on board were not immediately clear.

Several explosions were reported in cities in southwestern Iran’s Khuzestan province on Friday afternoon, but no casualties have been reported, a provincial official said.

The deputy for security and law enforcement at the Isfahan governor’s office said the blasts occurred between 14:30 and 15:00 local time.

He added that no reports of deaths or injuries had been received.

Iran said on Friday that a US F-15E fighter jet was shot down over its territory, while Axios reported, citing a source familiar with the incident, that a US fighter jet was downed and a search and rescue effort was underway to locate the crew.

IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency reported that the aircraft was brought down, adding that the pilot’s fate was unknown.

Iranian media also said helicopters and a C-130 aircraft were seen in the area, suggesting a possible search-and-rescue operation, but this could not be confirmed.

There has been no immediate comment from the United States Air Force, and earlier US reports have denied similar claims.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that Israel would continue striking Iran in coordination with the United States.

“In full coordination between me and President Donald Trump … we will continue to strike Iran,” Netanyahu said in a video statement.

He said Israeli forces were “eliminating commanders, bombing bridges and striking infrastructure,” adding that the campaign had hit Iran’s military and industrial capabilities.

Netanyahu also said Israel’s air force had destroyed 70% of Iran’s steel production capacity, calling it a “tremendous achievement” against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.