An Iranian television channel has reportedly announced a reward for civilians who capture American pilots after a US fighter jet was shot down during the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran.
According to multiple reports, the aircraft - identified by US sources as an F-15E Strike Eagle - went down over southwestern Iran on April 3. Shortly after the incident, a presenter on an Iranian channel urged local residents to help locate the pilots who ejected from the jet.
The broadcast message reportedly told people in nearby provinces that anyone who captures the American pilot alive and hands them over to security forces would receive a reward.
US-Israel-Iran Latest Update: Bounty Reportedly Worth Around $60,000
Media reports say the reward announced by Iranian state-linked broadcasters could be around $60,000 (roughly 10 billion Iranian tomans) for information or assistance leading to the capture of the pilot.
Iranian authorities also urged civilians in mountainous regions near the crash site to assist security forces searching for the downed crew members. Videos and social media posts reportedly showed residents driving toward the crash area, hoping to find the pilot.
Some reports suggested that people in nearby provinces were encouraged to report sightings immediately, while Iranian forces continued their own search operations around the wreckage site.
US-Israel-Iran Latest Update: One Crew Member Rescued, Second Still Missing
The downed jet had two crew members on board. U.S. officials confirmed that one crew member has already been rescued during a search-and-rescue mission conducted by American forces, while the second crew member remains missing.
Rescue aircraft and helicopters were reportedly seen operating over the crash site in an attempt to locate the missing pilot. The operation is considered extremely risky as it is taking place inside Iranian territory.
US-Israel-Iran Latest Update: Incident Escalates Tensions in Ongoing Conflict
The bounty announcement has added another layer of tension to the escalating confrontation between the United States and Iran. Analysts say the public call for civilians to capture a foreign pilot is highly unusual and could complicate rescue operations while increasing risks on the ground. The incident also marks one of the most serious air combat developments in the ongoing conflict, with the loss of a manned U.S. fighter jet inside Iranian territory.
Authorities on both sides have continued to issue conflicting claims about the circumstances of the crash, and the status of the missing crew member remains unclear.
Disclaimer:This information is based on inputs from news agency reports. TSG does not independently confirm the information provided by the relevant sources.