Published on 03/04/2026 - 17:06 GMT+2•Updated 17:57

The US military launched a rescue operation on Friday for a fighter jet pilot who ejected after his plane was reportedly shot down by Iranian air defences, US officials have told CBS News.

The announcement comes after a local Iranian state TV channel said earlier on Friday that a US fighter jet had been downed and urged Iranians in the area to help hunt the pilot down.

The television anchor urged residents to hand over any "enemy pilot" to police and promised a reward for anyone who did.

The channel is in Kohkilouyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, an intensely rural and mountainous region that spans over 15,500 square kilometres.

An on-screen text earlier urged the public to "shoot them if you see them," referring to social media footage circulating of what appeared to be US aircraft in the area.

Meanwhile, Iran's Fars news agency said the Iranian army had also launched a search for the pilot.

"Military forces have launched a search operation to find the American fighter pilot who was hit earlier today," Fars said.

The incident is the first report of a US fighter jet being downed in Iranian territory since the United States and Israel launched its war on the Islamic republic on 28 February.

The war now entering its sixth week is destabilising economies around the world as Iran responds to US and Israeli attacks by targeting the Gulf region's energy infrastructure and tightening its grip on oil and natural gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump said US forces would keep hitting Iran "very hard" in the next two or three weeks.

Additional sources • AP, AFP