Iran authorities urged people living in the rugged southwest of the country to search for the crew of a downed U.S. fighter jet on Friday (April 3, 2026) as state TV broadcast images of what was said to be the mangled remains of the plane.

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

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"Military forces have launched a search operation to find the American fighter pilot who was hit earlier today," Iran's Fars news agency reported.