![\"'Iranians](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-130033455,imgsize-28438,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/f-15-representative-image.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nA missing crew member from a downed US F-15 fighter jet in Iran has reportedly been recovered alive following a \u201cheavy firefight\u201d, Reuters and Al Jazeera reported citing US government officials, though there has been no official confirmation from US authorities. Separately, former US Special Forces personnel and journalist Jack Murphy claimed the airman had been located alive. In a post on X, Murphy wrote, \u201cGood news for once. F-15 WSO recovered alive. Was escaping and evading. Massive firefight on tgt. Iranians were actively looking for him in the area.\u201dHowever, US officials have not publicly confirmed the recovery.According to CNN, both US and Iranian forces had been conducting search operations in the rugged highlands of Iran\u2019s Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province and the Bakhtiari region. During these operations, Iranian tribesmen reportedly opened fire on American helicopters.Iran\u2019s Fars News Agency reported that local tribal groups targeted two US Black Hawk helicopters on Saturday in the same region.Following the confrontation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps praised the tribal fighters as \u201ccourageous, valiant and victorious guardians of the borders,\u201d CNN reported.Footage circulated by Iranian state-affiliated outlets allegedly showed armed Bakhtiari tribesmen patrolling mountainous terrain in Khuzestan province in search of the American airman. In one clip, an individual is heard saying, \u201cGod willing, he will be found.\u201dIranian authorities had also announced financial rewards for information leading to the capture of the missing pilot, according to multiple media reports.The incident follows the downing of two US warplanes on Friday, including an F-15E Strike Eagle, marking a major escalation in the ongoing conflict, according to The Associated Press. One crew member was rescued, while another was initially reported missing.In an email cited by AP, the Pentagon said it had received notification of \u201can aircraft being shot down\u201d in the Middle East. It also informed the US House Armed Services Committee that the status of one service member remained unknown.US President Donald Trump declined to outline a response if the pilot was harmed or captured. \u201cWell, I can’t comment on it because we hope that’s not going to happen,\u201d he told The Independent in a telephone interview.Meanwhile, Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it had shot down an MQ-9 Reaper drone in Isfahan, according to Fars News Agency.The search for the missing pilot had drawn intense attention as Iran also urged civilians to locate and hand over the \u201cenemy pilot,\u201d while US forces deployed aircraft and helicopters to scan mountainous terrain, AP reported.The developments come amid continued escalation in the West Asia conflict, now in its sixth week. President Trump warned Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying, \u201cRemember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out \u2014 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them,” according to AP.Iran responded sharply to the warning. \u201cThe doors of hell will be opened to you\u201d if Iran\u2019s infrastructure is attacked, Gen. Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi said, as reported by Iranian state media and cited by AP.The war, which began with US-Israel strikes on February 28, has killed thousands and expanded across the region, disrupting shipping routes and fuelling fears of further escalation, according to AP.<\/div>\n\n