WASHINGTON
President Donald Trump "has been briefed" on a US fighter jet shot down over Iran, White House said Friday.
“President Trump has been briefed,” spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told CNN.
Earlier, Iranian state media released photos and videos allegedly showing debris from the crash site, including what appears to be parts of the aircraft and one of the ejected seats.
Initial assessments based on the imagery suggest the aircraft may have been an F-15 fighter jet.
The Pentagon and US Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Anadolu.
If confirmed, it would be the first time since the beginning of the war that a US jet was downed by "enemy" fire.
'One crew member rescued'
Media reports indicate that a search-and-rescue operation is underway for the crew of the jet fighter.
Citing two US officials, CBS News reported that one crew member from the plane was rescued by US forces.
Axios reporter Barak Ravid also said he was told by Leavitt that Trump "has been continually briefed all morning."
Ravid reported that the search for the second airman was ongoing, citing an Israeli official and another source familiar with the details.
Iranian media said that two UH 60 Blackhawk helicopters, on a search mission for the jet reportedly shot down in Iran, were also hit by a projectile.
'2 US military helicopters struck by fire'
Newsmax also reported that one of the pilots has been rescued and is undergoing medical treatment, while the status of the second is unknown.
"We've seen video of HC-130 aircraft and helos in the skies. One source tells me a Blackhawk may have also been hit over Iran while conducting rescue ops to find the second F-15 pilot. I'm told the Blackhawk was tailed by a trail of smoke as it crossed into southern Iraq from Iran today," a Newsmax reporter said on US social media company X.
Newsmax later reported that the Blackhawk was hit by Iran.
"The crew is accounted for and is safe," reporter Carla Babb said on X, citing a US official.
NBC News said two US military helicopters that were involved in the F-15 search and rescue efforts were struck by Iranian fire, but the service members are "all safe."
'2nd US Air Force combat plane crashes in Persian Gulf region'
The New York Times reported that a second US Air Force combat aircraft – the A-10 attack plane – crashed in the Persian Gulf region at around the same time that an Air Force F-15E was shot down over Iran.
Citing two US officials, it said that the lone pilot of the A-10 Warthog was safely rescued.
NBC News said the A-10 made it to Kuwaiti airspace, where the pilot ejected and the aircraft crashed, the official said. The pilot is safe and the A-10 is down in Kuwait, the report said, citing an official.
Trump told NBC News in a brief phone interview that the downing of a US fighter jet will not affect ongoing negotiations with Iran.
The president declined to discuss details of the ongoing search and rescue operation following the incident, describing it as a sensitive military matter.
When asked whether the developments would influence diplomatic efforts with Iran, Trump dismissed the idea.
“No, not at all. No, it’s war. We’re in war Garrett," Trump told NBC News correspondent Garrett Haake.
'National security team briefs Trump'
Trump’s national security team has gathered in the West Wing and has been providing updates to the president about the downed American jet all day, NBC News said, citing a senior White House official.
Meanwhile, several Congressional lawmakers from both parties have voiced support for American service members following reports.
Hakeem Jeffries, the minority leader at the House of Representatives, said he was "closely" monitoring news of the jet's downing.
"Praying for the crew as well as the safety of all the troops involved in the search and rescue effort. May God continue to watch over all our service members in harm's way," Jeffries said on X.
The incident follows Trump's address to the nation on Operation Epic Fury, which began on Feb. 28.
"We're going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We're going to bring them back to the Stone Age, where they belong," he threatened.
A total of 13 US service members have been killed and about 303 others have been injured since the operation began.
