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 a US helicopter, on a search mission for the jet reportedly shot down in Iran, was also hit by a projectile.  

'US' Blackhawk hit by Iran'

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.

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.