ISTANBUL

The US forces dispatched several Black Hawk helicopters as well as a Hercules 130 for the search and rescue of the pilot of a downed F-35 fighter jet, Iranian media claimed on Friday.

The efforts of the US forces were "unsuccessful," Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency claimed on its Telegram channel, citing unspecified sources.

The report came after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that it shot down a US F-35 jet in central parts of the country. The incident marked the second time Iran has claimed the downing of a US F-35 since hostilities started in late February.

Meanwhile, Iranian state TV reported that whoever catches the pilot alive and reports it to the authorities will be rewarded.

The US has not yet responded to the Iranian claim.

Tensions in the Middle East have escalated since Israel and the US launched a joint offensive against Iran on Feb. 28.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and infrastructure damage, while disrupting global markets and aviation.