Iran launched a hunt for the U.S. crew whose jet Iranian media said had been shot down by the Iran’s air defence systems on Friday (April 3), deploying troops and offering a bounty.

U.S. media reported U.S. special forces had rescued one of the two crew members, and a local official television station in southwestern Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province aired footage of what it said was wreckage of the downed plane.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), responsible for military operations in the West Asia, did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment on what would be the first known loss of a jet inside Iran since Trump ordered the war.

“Dear and honourable people of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, if you capture the enemy pilot or pilots alive and hand them over to the police and military forces, you will receive a valuable reward and bonus,” said an Iranian television reporter on the official local channel.- AFP