A local channel of Iranian state television claims that a US fighter pilot ejected, the Associated Press reported. Tehran claims that an F-35 stealth fighter jet was shot down over southwestern Iran, BTA reports.
“If you capture the enemy pilot or pilots alive and hand them over to the police, you will receive a valuable reward“, said a message read on the channel.
A separate on-screen message urged the public to “shoot them if you see them”, referring to footage shared on social media of a suspected US aircraft in the area.
US Central Command, the Pentagon and the White House have not yet responded to requests for comment.
The claim by Iranian state television comes as the war in the Middle East nears its fifth week. Earlier, Iran again shelled targets in the region, damaging a desalination plant and causing a fire at a refinery in Kuwait. Meanwhile, US and Israeli airstrikes have hit the Islamic Republic.
Tehran continues to pressure Israel and the Gulf states, despite US and Israeli insistence that Iran's military capabilities have been nearly destroyed.